> Under qualified immunity, government officials can be held accountable for violating someone’s rights only if a court has previously ruled that it was “clearl

> Under qualified immunity, government officials can be held accountable for violating someone’s rights only if a court has previously ruled that it was “clearly established” those precise actions were unconstitutional. Every public official swears an oath to uphold the US constitution. At that moment it is clearly established that you are bound by the restrictions on exercise of power as enumerated in the constitution.