Measure to Repeal Qualified Immunity Defeated in VA General Assembly

An effort to repeal qualified immunity during this year’s Virginia General Assembly session fell short Monday after a Senate committee rejected a measure that would have made it easier to sue over misconduct claims against police officers and collect damages in state court.

The Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee killed legislation from state Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Fairfax) on a bipartisan vote Monday, days after a similar, broader bill was tabled by a House subcommittee for further review, WRIC reports.

On Friday, the Virginia House Courts of Justice Civil Subcommittee approved a recommendation to table a bill from Del. Jeff Bourne (D-Richmond) creating a civil action that would have allowed residents to seek damages in lawsuits alleging “the deprivation of a person’s rights by a law-enforcement officer.”

The legislation, which would have prohibited an officer from using sovereign or qualified immunity as a defense in court, was set aside to be studied by the Virginia Crime Commission.