The Supreme Court revived a case Monday brought by a Texas inmate involving qualified immunity—the legal principle that protects law enforcement from civil liability.
The inmate claims that his Eighth Amendment right against cruel and unusual punishment was violated by a prison guard who allegedly maced him for no reason.
The justices vacated a ruling against the inmate and asked the lower court to take another look.
Qualified immunity is a judge-made doctrine that aims to keep public employees from answering for alleged rights violations. It specifically prevents alleged victims from suing government officials where the constitutional right wasn’t “clearly...