By one vote the House approves legislation that would partially limit qualified immunity for police officers in some cases.
Baton Rouge Representative Edmond Jordan said his bill blocks officers from utilizing qualified immunity in a wrongful death or injury suit if a judge deems their conduct to be “unreasonable”.
“The police officers are there to serve and protect everyone, but for those who do not serve and protect and they violate someone’s constitutional rights they should not get the benefit of qualified immunity,” said Jordan.
House Republican Caucus Chairman Blake Miguez opposed the bill. He said passage would make it more difficult to recruit law enforcement officers.
“Aren’t you addressing the one percent of bad actors with this bill?” asked Miguez. “If we pass this bill what kind of message do we send to the 99 percent of good actors?”
The legislation is the result of a police reform task force that was formed after last year’s George Floyd Protests. The task force included community, legislative, and law enforcement leaders.
Baton Rouge Representative Ted James took issue with some of his colleagues’ accusations that this bill would lead to frivolous lawsuits against officers.
“Some of you think that the issues of dead black and brown bodies at the hands of police officers is frivolous, period. Period, that’s what it is,” said James.
The vote was 53-42, but only after the bill was amended to include language requiring anyone who loses a qualified immunity lawsuit against an officer to pay all court costs and attorney fees. Bill supporters call it a poison pill and will attempt to remove it in the Senate.
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