absolute immunity
Complete legal shield
Absolute immunity is complete legal protection from lawsuits, regardless of motive or wrongdoing.
Judges have absolute immunity for their judicial acts; prosecutors have it for courtroom conduct.
The doctrine ensures officials can perform sensitive functions without fear of personal liability.
Distinguished from qualified immunity, which offers weaker protection and can be overcome by showing misconduct.
- official capacityRole granting institutional power
- judicial discretionJudge's decision-making freedom
- court rulingsOfficial judicial decisions
- checks and balancesConstitutional power-limiting framework
- tort lawRules for civil wrongs
judicial independence · legal precedent · constitutional law · executive privilege · above the law · judicial misconduct · government officials · whistleblower protections
absolute immunitypersonal liability
One's own legal responsibility
civil liability · legal accountability · unshielded · legal responsibility · actionability
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