official immunity

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Explanation of "Official Immunity"

Definition: "Official immunity" is a legal term that refers to a special protection given to certain public officials (like police officers, judges, or government workers) that prevents them from being sued or held responsible for actions they take while performing their official duties. This protection is meant to allow officials to do their jobs without fear of being punished for their decisions, as long as they are acting within the scope of their authority.

Usage Instructions

• Noun: "Official immunity" is always used as a noun.
• Context: It is primarily used in legal discussions or when talking about government officials and their responsibilities.

Example Sentences

1. The judge ruled that the police officer had official immunity for his actions during the arrest.
2. Even though citizens may feel wronged, official immunity protects public officials from lawsuits as long as they acted reasonably within their duties.

Advanced Usage

In legal contexts, "official immunity" can be divided into two categories: 1. Absolute Immunity: Complete protection from lawsuits for certain high-level officials (like judges). 2. Qualified Immunity: Protection that allows for lawsuits if the official violated a clearly established statutory or constitutional right.

Word Variants

• Immunity (noun): The state of being free from legal responsibility.
• Immunize (verb): To protect someone from legal liability, often used more generally in medical contexts (like vaccinations).

Different Meanings

While "official immunity" specifically refers to public officials and legal protection, the word "immunity" itself can refer to other contexts: - Legal Immunity: Protection from prosecution. - Medical Immunity: The body's ability to resist infection or disease.

Synonyms

• Legal protection
• Exemption (from liability)
• Impunity (freedom from punishment)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

There are no direct idioms or phrasal verbs specifically for "official immunity," but here are some related phrases:

Summary

"Official immunity" is an important concept that helps public officials do their jobs without fear of legal consequences, as long as they act appropriately within their roles.

Academic

Noun

1. personal immunity accorded to a public official from liability to anyone injured by actions that are the consequence of exerting official authority