The U.S. Supreme Court rejected correctional officers’ claim of qualified immunity in what the justices called an egregious case from Texas involving a man confined naked for six days in cells filled with feces and sewage.
The unsigned opinion Monday, decided without oral argument, took the rare step of ruling against public officials in a qualified immunity case.
The opinion is a victory for advocates, who have been pressing the high court to abolish the judge-made immunity doctrine that keeps police officers and other officials from answering for alleged rights violations.
“It’s a big deal because it will potentially change ...