Kuala Lampur, June 6 -- Cornell Law School offers an insightful read on qualified immunity.

It says that qualified immunity is a type of legal immunity that protects a government official from lawsuits alleging that the official violated a plaintiff's rights, only allowing suits where officials violated a "clearly established" statutory or constitutional right.

A plaintiff is the party who sues in a civil suit.

A defendant is the party sued.

It says further that qualified immunity balances two important interests-the need to hold public officials accountable when they exercise power irresponsibly and the need to shield officials from harassment, distraction, and liability when they perform their duties reasonably. (Emphasis added)

Wh...