Anderson v. Creighton (1986)
- Docket
- 85-1520
- Decided
- 1986-01-01
Summary
Question: Can a federal officer who participated in a search that violated the Fourth Amendment be held personally liable for monetary damages if a reasonable officer would have assumed that the search comported with the Fourth Amendment? Conclusion: No. Justice Antonin Scalia delivered the opinion of the 6-3 majority. The Court held that an officer of the law has qualified immunity from civil liability if the actions that officer took “could reasonably have been thought consistent” with the allegedly violated rights. Because Anderson could reasonably believe that his actions were legal, he is entitled to qualified immunity. The Court also held that the determination of whether an official is entitled to qualified immunity should be determined based on the reasonable belief of the legality of the search, rather than the actual legality of the search. Justice John Paul Stevens wrote a dissenting opinion where he argued that the majority’s opinion unnecessarily expands the idea of qualified immunity beyond high political officials to police officers, whom it is in the public’s best interests to hold accountable for their actions. He also argued that the lower court was correct in holding that summary judgment cannot be granted without resolving the factual disputes regarding the constitutionality of the search. Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. and Justice Thurgood Marshall joined in the dissent.