End Qualified Immunity in New York
Albany can lead the nation. When rights are violated, New Yorkers deserve a path to justice. Add your name to restore accountability — because no one is above the law.
Your message is delivered directly to your state legislators.
Why New York Must End Qualified Immunity
Qualified immunity is a court-created doctrine that makes it extraordinarily difficult to hold public officials accountable—even when they engage in brutal or unconstitutional conduct.
When rights are violated, New Yorkers deserve a fair day in court — not a legal maze designed to protect the government. Ending qualified immunity:
- Removes the nearly insurmountable barrier that blocks civil rights lawsuits
- Ensures public officials can be held accountable when they violate the Constitution
- Creates a state cause of action so New Yorkers no longer depend on federal judges to decide whether their rights matter
What S176/A1402 Does:
Holds public officials—and public institutions—accountable by:
- Eliminating qualified immunity entirely in New York.
- Creating a state cause of action for civil rights violations.
- Allowing New Yorkers and the Attorney General to bring civil rights cases in state court.
- Holding public entities financially responsible.
- Covering attorney fees in cases where litigation leads to broader policy change.
- Strengthening constitutional protections for every New Yorker.
This is about safeguarding the rights we all rely on — the right to speak freely, the right to be safe in our homes, the right to due process, and the right to equal protection under the law.