Qualified Immunity Doctrine Continues to Shield Officers from Civil Rights Suits

Qualified immunity, a judicially created doctrine protecting government officials from civil rights suits, was granted by courts in over 50% of cases. The doctrine was invented by the Supreme Court without basis in the text of 42 U.S.C. Section 1983. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote separately in 2020 calling for reconsideration. Congress blocked legislative fixes; the Supreme Court refused cert on multiple cases seeking to revisit the doctrine.