Villarreal v. Laredo (En Banc)

Brief Details

Date Filed
12/12/2022
Original Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Current Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

Priscilla Villarreal, a citizen journalist, was arrested for asking questions of police at a crime scene.

The officers who blatantly violated her rights are seeking qualified immunity. IJ's amicus brief in the case argues the court should not extend qualified immunity to obvious constitutional violations—such as a premeditated arrest for doing nothing more than asking questions to a government official. Such a broad reading would not, even under the doctrine’s current formulation, strike the right balance. IJ is urging the court to deny immunity and remand the case to the district court.