Bass: ‘Essential’ for police reform bill to address qualified immunity

Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), one of the three lawmakers leading negotiating on police reform, says it’s “essential” for qualified immunity, a sticking point in the talks, to be addressed in the final bill.

During an interview with The Washington Post, Bass said she “wasn’t prepared” to offer her colleagues a bill that does not address qualified immunity, even it she gets everything else that she wants in the legislation.

“I’m not prepared to do that,” Bass said. “I think qualified immunity is essential to be in the bill.”

The qualified immunity doctrine shields state and local government officials, including police officers, from most liability in civil suits unless they clearly violated a person’s civil rights.

Bass further said that qualified immunity has been “wreaking havoc” in court rooms for years, and that the issue needs to be resolved.

“Qualified immunity is not a law, it is a court decision that has been wreaking havoc on court rooms around the country for years,” Bass said. “This is something that has needed to be resolved for a very long time. Now, is our opportunity to do that.”

.@RepKarenBass on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Bill: “Qualified immunity is essential to be in the bill. But as I mentioned, we are looking at the entire bill… But even when President Biden signs the bill… there is still so much more that needs to be done.” pic.twitter.com/jqzvvVpoDr

— Washington Post Live (@postlive) May 25, 2021

Bass sponsored the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which the House passed in March. It would do away with qualified immunity, but Republicans oppose doing so. 

Bass is in negotiations with Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) on police reform. The trio said on Monday that they “remained optimistic” about a compromise.

Democrats argue that nixing qualified immunity would hold officers accountable for their actions. Republicans say that doing away with those protections makes it harder for law enforcement to do their jobs.

House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) hinted that he would be willing to compromise on qualified immunity, telling CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday he “will never sacrifice good on the altar of perfect.”

Booker said on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that he’s focused on eliminating qualified immunity.