Officer Caught Snitching on Domestic Abuse Victim

In 2013, a Clovis, California police officer found out that his girlfriend Desiree Martinez had reported him for physically abusing her—while Desiree was trapped in a room with him, leading to further horrific abuse. Incredibly, the informant was another officer who knew about Desiree’s boyfriend’s history of domestic violence.

Desiree later sued that officer informant for enabling the abuse, but an appeals court granted qualified immunity to block the suit. Now, Desiree and IJ are asking the U.S. Supreme Court to make clear that government officials who knowingly place people in danger can be held accountable.

Today we talk with IJ attorneys Anya Bidwell and Patrick Jaicomo about Desiree’s fight for justice.

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[hungarianhillbilly]

Qualified immunity is the biggest hinderance for justice. It allows police to act in a corrupt and abusive manner without repercussions.

[steveladner]

Self proclaimed heroes have worn the qualified immunity excuse out and people are tired of it.

[Strideo]

Remember: qualified immunity is designed to protect government officials who have broken the law or violated someone's rights but when an ordinary citizen breaks the law they're told that ignorance of the law is not a defense.

[danielhurst]

Qualified Immunity should never apply to illegal activity. Qualified Immunity exists so that minor mistakes do not end up in lawsuits. It's not supposed to be a shield against committing actual crimes.

[jackjrabbit]

The police officer who endangered the victim should never work again, after criminal trial and a potential substantial prison sentence.

[MrFlintlock]

How TF does facilitating a crime, using privileged information fall under. "Qualified" Immunity!?

[josephd.]

'Where you find police, you'll find crime.'
- Sir Terry Pratchett

[simontechdev]

She filed a confidential report — enough said, it's in the word.

[flukeman]

Why was the cop given immunity? I doubt the judge granted would've allowed it if happened to someone he cares about! Both cops and judge should've been arrested, charged, sentenced, name and shamed

[twotrackjack]

This is certainly one of the more disturbing cases of qualified immunity I've heard.

[EdmundPorter-jukd]

At some point we, I believe, need to start calling out the judges who make up this nonsense.

[PepeToTheMooon]

Once she started dating the cop, sadly, her situation became bad right away. They will always stick together.

[ritamatthews]

Get rid of qualified immunity and executive privilege and hold them all accountable

[sportfanatic]

Imagine a judge telling someone, due to you being punched with a left hand and the comparator being punched with a right hand, we have to dismiss your case.

[tamigoodsell]

Once a officer has a verified instance of domestic violence or unjustified violence they should no longer be allowed to be a police officer That's abuse on someone waiting to happen

[nickybeingnicky]

Absolutely disgusting they allowed this to go unpunished in the 9th circuit.

[rosec]

I work in law enforcement. Anyone knowing giving an abuser information that could harm the abused is complete violation of their oath.

[matthewishunting]

"and what exactly qualifies his immunity in this situation that he created?" - good lawyer in deposition

[wesleybigham]

If the judges require a previous case with the exact same circumstances in order to fit the “clearly established” definition, it’s a losing battle. They have to set precedent with a first case to refer to.

[jackjrabbit]

It's qualified immunity because enabling domestic abuse is part of his job. It was in the course of his duties.