The State and Local Legal Center (SLLC) filed an amicus brief in Plumhoff v. Rickard where the Supreme Court will decide whether police officers are entitled to qualified immunity for the use of deadly force in a high speed chase. State and local government officials can be sued for money damages in their individual capacity if they violate a person’s constitutional rights. Qualified immunity protects government officials from such lawsuits where the law they violated isn't “clearly established.” Rickard wove through traffic on an interstate connecting two states, collided with police vehicles twice, and used his vehicle to escape after being surrounded by police officers, nearly hitting at least one officer. Police shot and killed Rickard and his passenger. Their families sought money damages claiming the officers violated the Fourth Amendment by using excessive force. The SLLC’s brief, which ICMA joined, argues that court of appeals erred in denying the officers the range of judgments about the law and the facts that qualified immunity entitles them to make. Read more about the case on the policy blog post in the Knowledge Network.