The state could be one step closer to ending qualified immunity, a legal defense used to protect government officials, including police officers, from being sued for civil rights violations. The New Jersey Supreme Court unanimously ruled to let a lawsuit against two Newark police officers move forward; the lawsuit was brought by a man who says he was wrongfully targeted for a string of robberies. The recent ruling upheld a lower court’s decision to dismiss the officers’ request to be protected by qualified immunity and stated they don’t have an automatic right to appeal such an order.
Supporters of qualified immunity say it offers public officials defense from unwarranted lawsuits, but critics have long argued it prevents police officers and others from being held accountable.
