Judge, Shielding Cop Via 'Qualified Immunity,' Asks Whether It Belongs In 'Dustbin'
Federal Judge Carlton Reeves applied the controversial doctrine in a case in which he ruled that an officer merited it — but in an outspoken opinion asked for the doctrine itself to be reevaluated.
Seven years ago, a white police officer pulled over Black man driving through Mississippi in a newly purchased Mercedes convertible.
For nearly two hours, the officer pushed to search the vehicle, allegedly lied to its owner, enlisted a drug detection dog and ultimately left the exhausted man by the side of the road to put his car back together again.
The Mercedes had been ripped apart and the driver was so shaken he sued the police officer.
This week, a federal judge reluctantly concluded the officer should
