August 12th, 2020

Washington, DC.- Rep. Jim Banks (IN-03) introduced the Qualified Immunity Act late last week that would codify clearly established Supreme Court precedent in favor of qualified immunity and the protections it provides for law enforcement agents into statutory law. Police Officers’ Defense Coalition, along with the National Center for Police Defense, the Fraternal Order of Police, and a variety of other police associations, praised and supported this new legislation.

“Representative Jim Banks’ new legislation will codify qualified immunity for law enforcement officers,” said James Fotis, President of Police Officers Defense Coalition. Police Officers Defense Coalition is a nonprofit social welfare organization committed to defending police officers’ right to dignity and respect within the political sphere.

Qualified immunity is one of the main topics of discussion within police reform. Local, state, and federal governments have all considered qualified immunity reform within changes being made in the wake of protests, riots, and looting in major cities this summer.

“Rep. Banks’ qualified immunity legislation would give law enforcement the initiative that they need to move forward in a time when the ‘War on Cops’ is raging. Rep. Banks’ legislation would help to stop punitive lawsuits that could be levied against a law enforcement officer for rights violations if ‘qualified immunity’ is not codified through the legislative process. In this time of law and order despair, I encourage all law enforcement and the organizations that represent them to help Rep. Jim Banks pass this important legislation,” Mr. James Fotis continued.

The full legislation text can be found here: https://banks.house.gov/uploadedfiles/rep._banks_qualified_immuntity_bill_final.pdf