US EditionSupreme Court backs officer seeking immunity from Vermont House protester’s excessive force claims
The Supreme Court ruled that prior case law did not clearly prohibit using a rear wristlock on a resistant protester, granting qualified immunity to Sgt. Jacob Zorn.
- The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Vermont State Police Sergeant Jacob Zorn is entitled to qualified immunity in a lawsuit by protester Shela Linton over a wristlock used during a 2015 Vermont Capitol protest.
- The Court reversed the Second Circuit's decision, holding that prior legal precedent did not clearly establish that Zorn's use of force violated the Constitution, thus shielding him from civil liability.
- Justice Sonia Sotomayor, joined by Justices Kagan and Jackson, dissented, arguing that a jury should decide if Zorn used excessive force and warning that the ruling weakens Fourth Amendment protections.
- The case arose from a protest where Linton alleged injuries after Zorn forcibly removed her with a wristlock following her resistance to police orders.
20 Articles
20 Articles
SCOTUS Issues Ruling In Vermont Police Use of Force Case - Patriot Newsfeed
Recent statements from prominent Democratic figures have intensified political tensions, particularly around questions of accountability, law enforcement, and the potential use of government authority in future administrations. Former National Security Advisor Susan Rice drew attention with remarks suggesting that institutions and individuals who aligned with President Donald Trump could face scrutiny. She emphasized that actions taken by politi…
Supreme Court Rules Policeman Accused of Excessive Force by Protester May Not Be Sued
The U.S. Supreme Court on March 23 ruled 6–3 that qualified immunity prevents a protester from suing a police officer for allegedly using excessive force during an arrest at a state capitol. Qualified immunity, a rule created by the courts, shields government officials, including police officers, from individual liability unless the wrongdoer violated a clearly established right. Civil libertarians have become increasingly critical of qualified …
Supreme Court rules for state trooper over State House protestor
2015 protestor alleged excessive force after cop used wrist hold By Guy Page The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled in favor of a Vermont state police sergeant accused of using excessive force during the arrest of a protester at the Statehouse, concluding the officer is entitled to qualified immunity. In Zorn v. Linton, issued March 23, the Court reversed a lower court ruling and held that Sgt. Jacob Zorn could not be sued for damages under fede…
The Daily Signal
The HayrideSupreme Court Backs Police Immunity in Protest Case
The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that a Vermont police officer is entitled to qualified immunity after a protester at the state Capitol sued him for an injury in a case that stretches back more than a decade. Qualified immunity protects law enforcement officers from litigation if they are acting in the line of duty, unless they violate a clearly established constitutional right. Recently, some Democrats in Congress have called for Immigration a…
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