While the process known as civil forfeiture may be the bulbous, dripping chancre on American jurisprudence, the doctrine of qualified immunity takes a close second place in the hall of shame. On the surface, qualified immunity has a noble purpose. It shields police officers acting in good faith from personal liability for their actions. Like so many well-intentioned laws, it only works when dealing with people acting in good faith.
Qualified immunity has been the subject of abuse.
Police Set a Suicidal Man on Fire
On July 10, 2017, Gabriel Eduardo Olivas poured gasoline over his body and threatened to kill himself. After Olivas’ son called 911, three officers from the Arlington Police Department in Texas — who recognized that tasering Olivas would set him on fire and voiced this fact — tasered him anyway after seeing an object that allegedly appeared to be a lighter in…
