In the days following the tragic death of George Floyd, millions of protesters have called for wide-ranging reforms. After years of tireless advocacy by organizations such as the Cato Institute, policymakers are finally focused on issues such as unfair “qualified immunity” protections for police officers. It’s next to impossible for officers, and government employees in general, to be held legally responsible for actions taken on the job, even if they result in needless death and suffering.
Although the abolition of qualified immunity is a top priority, the conversation shouldn’t end there. States and government agencies are largely shielded from legal liability of any sort, creating a disturbing array of unintended consequences. Now is the time to roll back government immunity and hold irresponsible officials, agencies, and states accountable in a court of law.
