Judges who act like officers can’t hide behind judicial immunity

By Tori Clark

Published December 8, 2022 2:47pm ET

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Judges who act like officers can’t hide behind judicial immunity — John Lipscombe, a Travis County judge since 2011, was charged with driving while intoxicated after reportedly attempting to back his car into an already occupied parking spot at a hotel in North Austin on Saturday around 12:30 a.m. | (iStock Photo)

What would you do if a judge came into your home without a warrant and started demanding that your ex-spouse take some of your personal belongings? You would probably feel like your rights had been violated, and you would want to hold that judge accountable. But a doctrine called “judicial immunity” makes it almost impossible to sue judges when they violate people’s constitutional rights.

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First Amendment Fourth Amendment judiciary