NOBLE President Tells House Judiciary Committee Qualified Immunity Changes Are Needed
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Open in new tab Alexandria, Va. – The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE) President, Frederick L. Thomas, testified Thursday, March 31, 2022, before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, that qualified immunity as it stands comes with challenges and needs to be revisited and amended.
“NOBLE is honored to testify in hopes of addressing the unintended consequences and many misconceptions that keep us from police reform,” President Thomas testified. “The ‘clearly established standard’ in the current qualified immunity doctrine sets a high bar that favors law enforcement. But getting rid of qualified immunity altogether threatens public safety,” added.
Captain Frederick L. Thomas was one of eight witnesses from law scholars to judges to law enforcement officers who testified on qualified immunity, which is a doctrine protecting government officials, including police officers, from being held personally liable when accused of violating constitutional rights.
Frederick L. Thomas
President Thomas told members of the bipartisan committee that, “NOBLE proposes strengthening trust and legitimacy between communities and law enforcement and making policing more humane and effective. NOBLE believes in doing the right thing for the public. We call for our profession to come together to provide reasonable recommendations to our legislators and educate the public about the real consequences on either side of the arguments for qualified immunity.”
“The problem is misinformation. Our saving grace is unity. As public servants we must share our expertise with transparency so real federal policy change can be made,” said President Thomas.
Committee members have five legislative days to submit additional questions for witnesses, then review written testimony submitted by witnesses prior to the hearing; they will then decide what the next steps are in reexamining qualified immunity.
Source: NOBLE