The Future of Qualified Immunity

Qualified immunity is a judicially-created doctrine that shields government officials who have violated the U.S. Constitution from personal liability so long as their violation is not of “clearly established law.” With broad-reaching impact on civil rights and related litigation, the future of qualified immunity has become central to conversations about reforms addressing law enforcement abuse and overreach. Professors Alexis Hoag and Karla McKanders, both civil rights experts, will share their insights regarding the doctrine of qualified immunity, its impact on civil rights, and the future the doctrine. Professor McKanders will additionally discuss qualified immunity in the context of immigration detention and the doctrine’s impact on women who are detained.

Professor Alexis Hoag is an Assistant Professor at Brooklyn Law School, where she teaches Evidence and Criminal Law and Procedure. She spent over a decade as a civil rights and criminal defense lawyer, primarily representing capitally convicted clients in federal post-conviction proceedings. Professor Hoag’s scholarship examines the laws, institutions, and jurisprudence that perpetuate the subordination of Black people within the criminal legal system and offers avenues for reform.

Professor Karla McKanders directs the Immigration Practice Clinic and teaches Refugee and Immigration Law at Vanderbilt Law School. Professor McKanders’ work has taken her throughout the U.S. and abroad teaching and researching the efficacy of legal institutions charged with processing migrants and refugees.

*Sustaining Members who renew their dues by June 30th qualify to receive one hour of FREE CLE. Members not currently at the Sustaining Membership level who have paid their 2021-2022 dues may upgrade their membership prior to June 30th. Please contact the LAW office at info@law-nashville.org to request an updated invoice. Sustaining Members must use their free one-hour CLE credit by September 1, 2021.