The Current State of Qualified Immunity
May 28
Noon PST | 3:00 PM EDT
Presented by Neil Okazaki, Esq.
Qualified immunity remains one of the most significant — and most debated — doctrines affecting law enforcement officers and the agencies they serve. Courts continue to refine its contours, while legislatures across the country evaluate statutory reforms that may expand, limit, or eliminate its protections.
In this focused, one-hour Shield Thursdays webinar, Neil Okazaki, Esq. provides a clear, practical explanation of qualified immunity, how it operates in federal civil rights litigation, and how recent judicial and legislative developments are reshaping the landscape.
Participants Will Learn:
The legal foundation and purpose of qualified immunity
How the “clearly established law” standard is applied in use-of-force and arrest cases
The two-step analysis courts use in §1983 litigation
Recent federal circuit and Supreme Court trends
State-level statutory changes affecting officer liability
Practical implications for policy, supervision, and risk management
This session is designed for chiefs, command staff, supervisors, internal affairs investigators, municipal attorneys, and risk managers who must understand how qualified immunity impacts operational decision-making and civil exposure.
Shield Thursdays delivers concise, legally rigorous training for public safety leaders navigating an evolving liability environment.
If your agency is concerned about litigation risk, officer protection, or evolving accountability standards, this webinar is essential.