qualified immunity
noun
law
: immunity from civil liability that is conditioned or limited (as by a requirement of good faith or due care)
especially
: immunity from lawsuits that is granted to public officials (such as police officers) for acts that violate someone's civil rights if it can be shown that the acts do not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would be aware
An officer conducting a search is entitled to qualified immunity where clearly established law does not show that the search violated the Fourth Amendment. —
Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223 (2009)
Pearson v. Callahan, 555 U.S. 223 (2009) Wayne Jones's family won a small victory this month when the federal Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the officers involved in his killing could not claim qualified immunity. —Hailey Fuchs
Hailey Fuchs By bypassing qualified immunity, but paying out judgments assessed against the officers, Colorado's new law ensures that victims are made whole and that good cops aren't deterred from doing their jobs. —Nick Sibilla
Nick Sibilla Examples of qualified immunity in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The county appealed that decision and other matters to the 9th Circuit; the appeals panel this week affirmed Houston’s denial of qualified immunity.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 May 2025
In 2017, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court decision to strip a Michigan sheriff’s deputy of qualified immunity.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 5 May 2025
In January, Iverson was denied qualified immunity by a federal judge for the shooting.
—Escher Walcott, People.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Hearing Sparks Laughter By Andrew Stanton Weekend Staff Writer
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The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for an Ohio constitutional amendment to end qualified immunity to appear on voters' ballots in a new ruling this week.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
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Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 May 2025
In 2017, the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court decision to strip a Michigan sheriff’s deputy of qualified immunity.
—Calmatters, Mercury News, 5 May 2025
In January, Iverson was denied qualified immunity by a federal judge for the shooting.
—Escher Walcott, People.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Hearing Sparks Laughter By Andrew Stanton Weekend Staff Writer
Newsweek Is A Trust Project Member
news article
4
The U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for an Ohio constitutional amendment to end qualified immunity to appear on voters' ballots in a new ruling this week.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for qualified immunity
Cite this Entry
“Qualified immunity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/qualified%20immunity. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.
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