Justice for Victims of Police Brutality
Unjust "Qualified Immunity" Doctrine
The unjust ‘qualified immunity’ doctrine shields law enforcement officers and other government actors from lawsuits, even when these officials violate the constitutional or civil rights of the people they are sworn to protect. Worse, over the past 50 years, this doctrine has been expanded by the courts, and many states have adopted similar doctrines. As a result, individuals hurt or the families of those killed by police brutality often have no way to hold officers accountable.
Âé¶¹´«Ã½and trial lawyers are working to change this.
Trial lawyers work tirelessly to seek justice for individuals and the families of victims of police brutality and civil rights abuses. Âé¶¹´«Ã½supports their work in several ways. Âé¶¹´«Ã½regularly files and joins amicus briefs supporting individual's rights to bring suits for civil rights violations. Âé¶¹´«Ã½advocates for legislation to remedy the qualified immunity doctrine and provide additional remedies for victims of police brutality. Several Âé¶¹´«Ã½communities help trial lawyers connect and learn from others representing clients injured by police violence and civil rights violations, and Âé¶¹´«Ã½regularly releases resources, including Litigation Packets, articles, and education programs, to support trial lawyers.
A community of trial lawyers, working together to protect civil rights
Hosted by Thurgood Marshall School of Law and sponsored by AAJ's Robert L. Habash Endowment, this virtual conference focused on the disproportionate use of force by police against black people and remedies for people injured by police violence.
Âé¶¹´«Ã½hosted a free webinar for trial lawyers with the basics of representing clients in police misconduct and civil rights cases and pointers for representing protesters in criminal court.
Watch the Recording