Official Immunity (Noun)
Meaning
Personal immunity accorded to a public official from liability to anyone injured by actions that are the consequence of exerting official authority.
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- As the sitting head of state, the president enjoyed official immunity from prosecution for any actions taken in the exercise of her official duties.
- The diplomat's official immunity protected him from lawsuits arising from his involvement in negotiating a contentious trade agreement.
- The doctrine of official immunity held that government officials could not be held personally liable for their discretionary actions, taken in good faith, as part of their official responsibilities.
- After leaving office, the former mayor lost his official immunity and faced a barrage of lawsuits from citizens who claimed they had been wronged by his administration.
- The court ruled that the police officer's official immunity shielded her from civil liability for the injuries she inflicted during the high-speed chase.