Bill > S1913

This bill aims to eliminate qualified immunity, a legal doctrine that currently protects government officials from being sued for civil rights violations unless the specific right they violated was previously "clearly established" in court. The bill highlights the historical context of Section 1983, originally passed in 1871 to protect the rights of newly freed slaves and combat civil rights violations, and argues that the Supreme Court has gradually transformed the law's original intent through several key rulings. Specifically, the bill removes defenses that have been used to shield government officials from liability, including arguments that they were acting in good faith, believed their conduct was lawful, or could not reasonably have known their actions were unlawful. By explicitly amending the statute, the bill seeks to restore the original congressional intent of Section 1983 by making it easier for individuals to sue state and local officials who violate their constitutional rights. The bill's proponents argue that the current qualified immunity doctrine has frustrated the original purpose of the law by creating significant barriers for plaintiffs seeking to hold government officials accountable for rights violations.

Justice

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1913/all-info