What does qualified immunity protect?

• A. Government officials from liability for civil damages unless they violate clearly established rights.
• B. Government agencies from all lawsuits regardless of conduct.
• C. The public from excessive force claims automatically.
• D. Officers from any criminal charges.

Answer: (A)

Qualified immunity protects government officials from civil damages claims for actions taken as part of their duties unless those actions violated rights that were clearly established by law at the time. In practice, a plaintiff must show that the officer’s conduct violated a constitutional or statutory right and that the right was clearly established by binding precedent in a similar situation. If the right wasn’t clearly established, or the conduct didn’t amount to a violation, the official is shielded from civil liability. It does not shield agencies from all lawsuits, it does not automatically protect the public from excessive force claims, and it does not protect officers from criminal charges.