How the Law Shields Cops From Suit: Qualified Immunity Explained

The death of George Floyd at the hands of Minnesota law enforcement has put the issue of police violence and accountability in the national spotlight once again—along with a doctrine well-known to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Floyd’s killing sparked nationwide protests against the use of excessive force by police against people of color. The demonstrations have in turn spawned more violence, with video clips of enforcers repelling non-violent demonstrators with what some may characterize as excessive force, as President Donald Trump exhorted governors and law enforcement to “dominate” the streets.

Those incidents, the Floyd case, and other well-known cases ...