anderson creighton argued february decided june petitioner federal bureau investigation agent participated law enforcement officers warrantless search respondents home search conducted petitioner believed one dixon suspected bank robbery committed earlier day might found respondents filed action petitioner asserting claim damages fourth amendment petitioner removed suit federal district filed motion dismissal summary judgment arguing fourth amendment claim barred qualified immunity civil damages liability discovery occurred granted summary judgment ground search lawful appeals reversed holding search lawfulness determined summary judgment factual disputes precluded deciding matter law search supported probable cause exigent circumstances also held petitioner entitled summary judgment qualified immunity grounds since right allegedly violated right persons protected warrantless searches homes unless searching officers probable cause exigent circumstances clearly established held petitioner entitled summary judgment qualified immunity grounds establish matter law reasonable officer believed search comported fourth amendment even though actually whether official protected qualified immunity may held personally liable allegedly unlawful official action generally turns objective legal reasonableness action assessed light legal rules clearly established time action taken harlow fitzgerald order conclude right official allegedly violated clearly established contours right must sufficiently clear reasonable official understand violates right appeals apparently considered fact right free warrantless searches one home unless searching officers probable cause exigent circumstances clearly established erred refusing consider argument clearly established circumstances petitioner confronted constitute probable cause exigent circumstances relevant question objective question whether reasonable officer believed petitioner warrantless search lawful light clearly established law information searching officers possessed petitioner subjective beliefs search irrelevant pp merit respondents argument inappropriate give officials alleged violated fourth amendment thus necessarily unreasonably searched seized protection qualified immunity intended protect reasonable official action argument foreclosed fact previously extended qualified immunity officials alleged violated fourth amendment also without merit respondents suggestion mitchell forsyth overruled holding qualified immunity may never extended officials conduct unlawful warrantless searches merit respondents contention immunity provided police officers conduct unlawful warrantless searches innocent third parties homes search fugitives pp scalia delivered opinion rehnquist white blackmun powell joined stevens filed dissenting opinion brennan marshall joined andrew pincus argued cause petitioner briefs solicitor general fried assistant attorney general willard deputy solicitor general ayer barbara herwig richard olderman john sheehy argued cause pro hac vice respondents brief ronald meshbesher david rudovsky jack novik michael avery filed brief american civil liberties union amicus curiae urging affirmance justice scalia delivered opinion question presented whether federal law enforcement officer participates search violates fourth amendment may held personally liable money damages reasonable officer believed search comported fourth amendment petitioner russell anderson agent federal bureau investigation november anderson state federal law enforcement officers conducted warrantless search home respondents creighton family search conducted anderson believed vadaain dixon man suspected bank robbery committed earlier day might found creightons later filed suit anderson minnesota state asserting among things claim money damages fourth amendment see bivens six unknown fed narcotics agents removing suit federal district anderson filed motion dismiss summary judgment arguing bivens claim barred anderson qualified immunity civil damages liability see harlow fitzgerald discovery took place district granted summary judgment ground search lawful holding undisputed facts revealed anderson probable cause search creighton home failure obtain warrant justified presence exigent circumstances app pet cert creightons appealed appeals eighth circuit reversed creighton paul appeals held issue lawfulness search properly decided summary judgment unresolved factual disputes made impossible determine matter law warrantless search supported probable cause exigent circumstances appeals also held anderson entitled summary judgment qualified immunity grounds since right anderson alleged violated right persons protected warrantless searches home unless searching officers probable cause exigent circumstances clearly established ibid anderson filed petition certiorari arguing appeals erred refusing consider argument entitled summary judgment qualified immunity grounds establish matter law reasonable officer believed search lawful granted petition consider important question ii government officials abuse offices action damages may offer realistic avenue vindication constitutional guarantees harlow fitzgerald hand permitting damages suits government officials entail substantial social costs including risk fear personal monetary liability harassing litigation unduly inhibit officials discharge duties ibid cases accommodated conflicting concerns generally providing government officials performing discretionary functions qualified immunity shielding civil damages liability long actions reasonably thought consistent rights alleged violated see malley briggs qualified immunity protects plainly incompetent knowingly violate law police officers applying warrants immune reasonable officer believed probable cause support application mitchell forsyth officials immune unless law clearly proscribed actions took davis scherer brennan concurring part dissenting part harlow fitzgerald supra procunier navarette somewhat concretely whether official protected qualified immunity may held personally liable allegedly unlawful official action generally turns objective legal reasonableness action harlow assessed light legal rules clearly established time taken operation standard however depends substantially upon level generality relevant legal rule identified example right due process law quite clearly established due process clause thus sense action violates clause matter unclear may particular action violation violates clearly established right much said constitutional statutory violation test clearly established law applied level generality bear relationship objective legal reasonableness touchstone harlow plaintiffs able convert rule qualified immunity cases plainly establish rule virtually unqualified liability simply alleging violation extremely abstract rights harlow transformed guarantee immunity rule pleading approach sum destroy balance cases strike interests vindication citizens constitutional rights public officials effective performance duties making impossible officials reasonably anticipate conduct may give rise liability damages davis supra surprising therefore cases establish right official alleged violated must clearly established particularized hence relevant sense contours right must sufficiently clear reasonable official understand violates right say official action protected qualified immunity unless action question previously held unlawful see mitchell supra say light law unlawfulness must apparent see malley supra mitchell supra davis supra anderson contends appeals misapplied principles agree appeals brief discussion qualified immunity consisted little assertion general right anderson alleged violated right free warrantless searches one home unless searching officers probable cause exigent circumstances clearly established appeals specifically refused consider argument clearly established circumstances anderson confronted constitute probable cause exigent circumstances previous discussion make clear refusal erroneous simply follow immediately conclusion firmly established warrantless searches supported probable cause exigent circumstances violate fourth amendment anderson search objectively legally unreasonable recognized inevitable law enforcement officials cases reasonably mistakenly conclude probable cause present indicated cases officials like officials act ways reasonably believe lawful held personally liable see malley supra true conclusions regarding exigent circumstances follows said determination whether objectively legally reasonable conclude given search supported probable cause exigent circumstances often require examination information possessed searching officials contrary creightons assertion reintroduce qualified immunity analysis inquiry officials subjective intent harlow sought minimize see harlow relevant question case example objective albeit question whether reasonable officer believed anderson warrantless search lawful light clearly established law information searching officers possessed anderson subjective beliefs search irrelevant principles qualified immunity reaffirm today require anderson permitted argue entitled summary judgment ground light clearly established principles governing warrantless searches matter law reasonably believed search creightons home lawful iii addition relying reasoning appeals creightons advance three alternative grounds affirmance take form even anderson entitled qualified immunity usual principles qualified immunity law described exception made principles circumstances case note outset heavy burden argument must sustain successful emphasized doctrine qualified immunity reflects balance struck across board harlow supra brennan concurring see also malley executive officers general qualified immunity represents norm quoting harlow supra although narrow circumstances provided officials absolute immunity see nixon fitzgerald unwilling complicate qualified immunity analysis making scope extent immunity turn precise nature various officials duties precise character particular rights alleged violated immunity many variants modes official action types rights give conscientious officials assurance protection object doctrine provide observation mind turn particular arguments advanced creightons first broadly creightons argue inappropriate give officials alleged violated fourth amendment thus necessarily unreasonably searched seized protection qualified immunity intended protect reasonable official action possible say one reasonably acted unreasonably short answer argument foreclosed fact previously extended qualified immunity officials alleged violated fourth amendment see malley supra police officers alleged caused unconstitutional arrest mitchell forsyth officials alleged conducted warrantless wiretaps even however still find argument unpersuasive surface appeal attributable circumstance fourth amendment guarantees expressed terms unreasonable searches seizures equally serviceable term undue searches seizures employed might termed reasonably unreasonable argument application harlow fourth amendment available available application harlow fifth amendment term reasonable process law employed fact regardless terminology used precise content constitution guarantees rests upon assessment accommodation governmental need individual freedom reasonable creightons objection substance applies application harlow generally frequently observed many cases point amply demonstrate difficulty determining whether particular searches seizures comport fourth amendment see malley supra law enforcement officers whose judgments making difficult determinations objectively legally reasonable held personally liable damages officials making analogous determinations areas law reasons also reject creightons narrower suggestion overrule mitchell supra extending qualified immunity officials conducted warrantless wiretaps holding qualified immunity may never extended officials conduct unlawful warrantless searches finally reject creightons narrowest procrustean proposal immunity provided police officers conduct unlawful warrantless searches innocent third parties homes search fugitives rest proposal assertion officers conducting searches strictly liable english common law fugitive present see entick carrington tr eng although true observed determinations scope official immunity made light tradition malley supra never suggested precise contours official immunity slavishly derived often arcane rules common law notion plainly contradicted harlow completely reformulated qualified immunity along principles embodied common law replacing inquiry subjective malice frequently required common law objective inquiry legal reasonableness official action see harlow noted harlow clearly expressed understanding general principle qualified immunity established applied across board approach suggested creightons introduce qualified immunity analysis complexity rivaling found sufficiently daunting deter us tailoring doctrine nature officials duties rights allegedly violated see supra field unlawful arrests example cursory examination restatement second torts suggests special exceptions general rule qualified immunity made arrests pursuant warrant outside jurisdiction issuing authority arrests warrant lapsed arrests without warrant complexity unsuitability approach betrayed fact creightons proposal actually apply musty rule purportedly justification instead suggests exception qualified immunity fugitive searches third parties dwellings merely english rule appears provided unsuccessful fugitive searches third parties dwellings moreover sources cited creightons appears corollary english rule search successful civil action lie whether probable cause search existed also quite prudently quite illogically urged upon us creightons selective use common law general rule qualified immunity intended provide government officials ability reasonably anticipate conduct may give rise liability damages davis rule applicable officials know held personally liable long actions reasonable light current american law security utterly defeated officials unable determine whether protected rule without entangling vagaries english american common law unwilling balkanize rule qualified immunity carving exceptions level detail creightons propose therefore decline make exception general rule qualified immunity cases involving allegedly unlawful warrantless searches innocent third parties homes search fugitives reasons stated vacate judgment appeals remand case proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes dissent seemingly adopt approach seeks avoid unqualified liability follow advancing suggestion officials generally though law enforcement officials see post officials accused violating fourth amendment see post permitted raise defense reasonable good faith apparently asserted proved trial see post even modified even fortunate officials modification applies approach totally abandon concern driving force behind harlow substantial reformulation principles insubstantial claims government officials resolved prior discovery summary judgment possible harlow passably clever plaintiff always able identify abstract clearly established right defendant alleged violated defense envisioned dissent available trial creightons argue qualified immunity doctrine need expanded apply circumstances case federal government various state governments established programs reimburse officials expenses liability incurred suits challenging actions taken official capacities holding today extend official qualified immunity beyond bounds articulated harlow subsequent cases argument beside point moreover even assuming conscientious officials care personal liability liability government serve creightons reasonably contend programs refer make reimbursement sufficiently certain generally available justify reconsideration balance struck harlow subsequent cases see cfr permitting reimbursement department justice employees attorney general finds reimbursement appropriate harper james gray law torts ed listing various state programs decisions demonstrate emptiness dissent assertion oday makes fundamental error simply assuming harlow immunity appropriate federal law enforcement officers high government officials post omitted last term unanimously held state federal law enforcement officers protected qualified immunity described harlow malley briggs see reason overrule holding course american rather english tradition relevant cf malley supra american rule appears considerably less draconian english see restatement second torts officers arrest warrant privileged enter third party house effect arrest reasonably believe fugitive noting discovery yet taken place creightons renew argument whatever appropriate qualified immunity standard discovery required anderson summary judgment motion granted think matter somewhat complicated one purposes harlow qualified immunity standard protect public officials discovery peculiarly disruptive effective government omitted reason emphasized qualified immunity questions resolved earliest possible stage litigation see also mitchell forsyth thus remand first determined whether actions creightons allege anderson taken actions reasonable officer believed lawful anderson entitled dismissal prior discovery cf ibid actions anderson claims took different creightons allege actions reasonable officer believed lawful discovery may necessary anderson motion summary judgment qualified immunity grounds resolved course discovery tailored specifically question anderson qualified immunity justice stevens justice brennan justice marshall join dissenting case beguiling apparent simplicity accordingly represents task clarification settled principles qualified immunity apply damages suits brought federal officials opinion however announces new rule law protects federal agents make forcible nighttime entries homes innocent citizens without probable cause without warrant without valid emergency justification warrantless search stunningly restricts constitutional accountability police creating false dichotomy police entitlement summary judgment immunity grounds damages liability every police misstep responding dichotomy uncritical application precedents qualified immunity developed quite different group high public office holders displaying remarkably little fidelity countervailing principles individual liberty privacy infuse fourth amendment turn opinion appropriate identify issue confronted appeals apparent correct vacating district award summary judgment petitioner advance discovery appeals understood principle qualified immunity implemented harlow fitzgerald shield government officials performing discretionary functions exposure damages liability unless conduct violated clearly established statutory constitutional rights reasonable person known applying principle appeals held respondents fourth amendment rights exigent circumstances doctrine clearly established time search creighton paul moreover apparently referring extraordinary circumstances defense left open harlow defendant prove neither knew known relevant legal standard determined petitioner reasonably unaware clearly established principles law thus reviewing appeals judgment rejecting petitioner anderson claim immunity first question decided whether harlow fitzgerald requires immunity federal law enforcement agent advances claim reasonable person position believed particular conduct violate rights concedes clearly established negative answer question required harlow provides inappropriate measure immunity police acts violate fourth amendment challenged also petitioner make showing required harlow immunity second apart particular requirements harlow doctrine full review appeals judgment raises question whether approve double standard reasonableness constitutional standard already embodied fourth amendment even generous standard protects officer reasonably believed conduct constitutionally reasonable careful analysis set questions helpful assessing continuing embrace double standard reasonableness begin discussion petitioner claim entitlement harlow immunity ii accepting moment double standard reasonableness affirm judgment appeals correctly concluded petitioner satisfied harlow standard immunity inquiry upon immunity determination hinges case illustrates important limitation reach opinion harlow defendants claims immunity summary judgment stage harlow mitchell forsyth bolstered two policy concerns attenuated suits law enforcement agents field based fourth amendment one substantial public interest allowing government officials devote time energy press public business without burden distractions invariably accompany defense lawsuit harlow mitchell second underpinning harlow special unfairness associated charging government officials knowledge rule law yet clearly recognized harlow mitchell thus plaintiff claim predicated principle law clearly established time alleged wrong concerns favor determination immunity advance trial equal importance pretrial discovery process commenced concern depletion diversion public officials energies led harlow abolish doctrine official deprived immunity summary judgment plaintiff alleged official acted malicious intent deprive constitutional rights see wood strickland decision today however fails recognize harlow removal one arrow plaintiff arsenal summary judgment stage also preclude official advancing reasonableness claim trial character conduct established evidence warranted strategy rule harlow case contrast focuses character plaintiff legal claim properly invoked protects government executive spending time depositions document review conferences litigation strategy consistently overriding concern avoid litigation subjective good faith government officials harlow allow discovery issue whether official alleged conduct violated clearly established constitutional right determined motion summary judgment harlow implicitly assumed many immunity issues determined matter law parties exchanged depositions answers interrogatories admissions considerations underlying formulation immunity rule harlow executive branch officials however quite distinct led prior recognition immunity federal law enforcement officials suits founded constitution observation hardly surprising question immunity acquires importance cause action created practical consequences holding remedy authorized public official essentially flowing conclusion official absolute immunity mitchell forsyth stevens concurring judgment probing question immunity raised case therefore must begin rote recitation harlow standard examination cause action brought immunity question us play first instance every student federal jurisdiction quickly learns bivens six unknown fed narcotics agents held bivens cause action federal agents recover money damages injuries suffered result agents violation fourth amendment addition finding cause action available district case relied alternative holding respondents immune liability official position appeals second circuit passed immunity ruling consider remand bivens six unknown named agents federal bureau narcotics appeals articulated dual standard reasonableness initial matter rejected agents claim barr matteo recognized immunity official performs discretionary acts levels government concept duty encompasses sound exercise discretionary authority second circuit wisely noted sorry state affairs officer discretion enter dwelling without warrant probable cause nevertheless recognized need balance protection police demands every person manages escape toils criminal law right citizens free unlawful arrests searches according second circuit officer must held act peril obtain immunity need allege prove probable cause constitutional sense instead agent prevail prove believed good faith conduct lawful also belief reasonable ibid thus affirmative defense reasonable good faith available trial contrast immunity claim harlow type foreclose trial available view appropriate strength reasonable defense specific case course vary trial evidence facts upon officer relied made challenged search arrest appeals recognized assuring police officers discretion act illegal ways advantageous society executives attorney general senior assistant president must latitude take action legally uncharted areas without constant exposure damages suits therefore entitled rule qualified immunity many pretrial trial proceedings quite different considerations led second circuit recognize affirmative defense reasonable good faith bivens case today nevertheless makes fundamental error simply assuming harlow immunity appropriate federal law enforcement officers petitioner high government officials doctrinal reach precedential sweep moment forgetfulness multiplied interchangeability immunity precedents suits state officials bivens actions federal officials moreover moment restricting criticism analysis four corners harlow framework errs treating denial immunity failure satisfy harlow standard necessarily tantamount ruling defendants exposed damages liability every violation fourth amendment denial necessarily foreclose affirmative defense based second circuit thesis bivens officer may liable conduct complied lesser standard reasonableness constitutional standard violated failure recognize federal agents may retain partial shield damages liability although necessarily pretrial trial proceedings leads erroneous conclusion petitioner must harlow immunity else none save fourth amendment part iii explain latter alternative appropriate assert limited proposition appeals quite correctly rejected anderson claim entitled immunity harlow harlow speak extent official insulation monetary liability official concedes constitutional right charged violating deeply etched jurisprudence argues reasonably believed particular actions comported constitutional command case district judge granted anderson motion summary judgment convinced agent probable cause enter creightons home absence search warrant justified exigent circumstances words district judge concluded matter law substantive constitutional violation respondents appealed petitioner argued even constitution violated entitled immunity law defining exigent circumstances clearly established searched creightons home setting aside order granting summary judgment appeals concluded many essential factual matters sharply disputed creightons version incident accepted neither probable cause justification search therefore necessary try case find whether fourth amendment violated creighton paul appeals conclusion summary judgment issues appropriate advance discovery unquestionably correct appeals also correct rejecting petitioner argument based holding harlow issue resolved motion summary judgment discovery taken place appeals rejected argument convinced rule law clear also rejected argument equally persuasive ground namely harlow requirement concerning clearly established law applies rule plaintiff relies doubt proposition warrantless entry home without probable cause always unlawful even reach inquiry unless defendant shown probable cause trying establish search legal notwithstanding failure police obtain warrant thus assume appeals correct conclusion probable cause established also correct rejecting petitioner claim harlow immunity either exception warrant requirement clearly established warrantless entry home without probable cause always unlawful whether exigent circumstances present anderson argued relevant rule law whether requirement exception warrant requirement clearly established november rather argues competent officer might concluded particular set facts faced constitute probable cause exigent circumstances reasonable belief conduct engaged within law suffices establish immunity factual predicate anderson argument found creightons complaint rather affidavits filed support motion summary judgment obviously respondents must given opportunity discovery test accuracy completeness factual basis immunity claim neither petitioner disagrees proposition therefore pellucidly clear appeals correct conclusion record support summary judgment decision today represents departure view expressed two years ago mitchell forsyth held petitioner entitled qualified immunity authorizing unconstitutional clearly established warrantless domestic security wiretapping violated fourth amendment added intend suggest official always immune liability suit warrantless search merely warrant requirement never explicitly held apply search conducted identical circumstances cases legitimate question whether exception warrant requirement exists said warrantless search violates clearly established law iii although question appear argued decided appeals decided apply double standard reasonableness damages actions federal agents alleged violated innocent citizen fourth amendment rights double standard mean standard affords law enforcement official two layers insulation liability adverse consequence suppression evidence already adopted double standard applying exclusionary rule searches authorized invalid warrant leon seems prepared even anxious case remove requirement officer must obey fourth amendment entering private home remain convinced suit damages well hearing motion suppress evidence official search seizure unreasonable reasonable time stevens dissenting federal official may impunity ignore limitations controlling law placed powers butz economou effect literally unwarranted extension qualified immunity fear allows federal agents ignore limitations warrant requirements impunity name avoiding interference legitimate law enforcement activities even though requirement limits police exercise coercive authority form immunity frees exercise power without fear strict liability see pierson ray advances four arguments support position even though entry private home constitutionally unreasonable give rise monetary liability reasonable officer believed reasonable first standard vague unfair expect law enforcement officers comply second reasons saddling high government officials burdens litigation apply equally law enforcement officers third nothing new decision today previously extended qualified immunity officials alleged violated fourth amendment ante finally holding police officers constitutional standard reasonableness unduly inhibit officials discharge duties ante none arguments behalf double standard reasonableness persuasive unquestionably always uncertainty application standard particular cases nevertheless standard survived test time england america see hale history pleas crown jolowicz lewis winfield tort ed weber birth probable cause rev except cases officer relies fact magistrate issued warrant reason believe newly minted standard provide certainty constitutional standard indeed worth emphasizing standard recognizes fair leeway law enforcement officers must carrying dangerous work concept probable cause leaves room mistakes provided always mistakes made reasonable officer see lafave search seizure ed find nothing new standard provides officer guidance statement opinion brinegar almost four decades ago standards seek safeguard citizens rash unreasonable interferences privacy unfounded charges crime also seek give fair leeway enforcing law community protection many situations confront officers course executing duties less ambiguous room must allowed mistakes part mistakes must reasonable men acting facts leading sensibly conclusions probability rule probable cause practical nontechnical conception affording best compromise found accommodating often opposing interests requiring unduly hamper law enforcement allow less leave citizens mercy officers whim caprice evaluates police conduct relating arrest guideline good faith probable cause case higher officers executive branch however inquiry far complex since range decisions choices whether formulation policy legislation budgets decisions virtually infinite ince options chief executive principal subordinates must consider far broader far subtle made officials less responsibility range discretion must comparably broad argument police officers need special immunity encourage take vigorous enforcement action uncertain right make forcible entry private home already accepted jurisprudence held police act reasonably entering house probable cause believe fugitive house exigent circumstances make impracticable obtain warrant interpretation fourth amendment allows room police intrusion without warrant privacy even innocent citizens pierson ray held police officers liable action brought acted good faith probable cause explained prevailing view country peace officer arrests someone probable cause liable false arrest simply innocence suspect later proved restatement second torts harper james law torts ward fidelity deposit maryland ca cir policeman lot unhappy must choose charged dereliction duty arrest probable cause mulcted damages ibid thus found intolerable use standard protect police officer exposure liability simply reasonable conduct subsequently shown mistaken today however counts law enforcement interest twice individual privacy interest approach reflects understandable sympathy plight officer overriding interest unfettered law enforcement ascribes far lesser importance privacy interest innocent citizens framers fourth amendment importance interest possible magnitude invasion illustrated facts case home innocent family invaded several officers without warrant without owner consent substantial show force blunt expressions disrespect law rights family members case comes us must assume intrusion violated fourth amendment see steagald proceeding assumption see reason family interest security home accorded lesser weight government interest carrying invasion unlawful arguably government considers important discourage conduct provide indemnity officers preferably however furnish kind training law enforcement agents entirely eliminate necessity distinguish conduct competent officer considers reasonable conduct constitution deems reasonable federal officials liable mere mistakes judgment whether mistake one fact one law butz economou hand surely innocent family bear entire risk trial benefit hindsight find federal agent reasonably believed break home equipped force arms without probable cause warrant iv entirely faithful traditions embedded law since adoption bill rights wrote fourth amendment protects individual privacy variety settings none zone privacy clearly defined bounded unambiguous physical dimensions individual home zone finds roots clear specific constitutional terms right people secure houses shall violated language unequivocally establishes proposition core fourth amendment stands right man retreat home free unreasonable governmental intrusion silverman terms apply equally seizures property seizures persons fourth amendment drawn firm line entrance house absent exigent circumstances threshold may reasonably crossed without warrant payton new york respectfully dissent fourth amendment provides right people secure persons houses papers effects unreasonable searches seizures shall violated warrants shall issue upon probable cause supported oath affirmation particularly describing place searched persons things seized theme also pervades opinions construing scope official immunity suits brought precedents provide guidance causes action based directly constitution untenable draw distinction purposes immunity law suits brought state officials suits brought directly constitution federal officials harlow fitzgerald quoting butz economou accord malley briggs unfair expect officials anticipate changes law prescience escapes even able scholars lawyers judges precedents recognize qualified immunity entirely consistent requirement federal officials act way consistent awareness fundamental constitutional rights enumerated bill rights constitution scheuer rhodes based qualified immunity high government officials official acts upon existence reasonable grounds belief formed time light circumstances coupled belief wood strickland observed standard knowledge basic unquestioned constitutional rights students imposes neither unfair burden upon person assuming responsible public office requiring high degree intelligence judgment proper fulfillment duties unwarranted burden light value civil rights legal system donaldson ruled immunity inquiry relevant part whether state hospital superintendent charged unconstitutionally confining patient knew reasonably known action violate patient constitutional rights procunier navarette wrote reasonably expected aware constitutional right yet declared petitioners act disregard established law conduct reasonably characterized good faith wood strickland law time clearly established official reasonably expected anticipate subsequent legal developments fairly said know law forbade conduct previously identified unlawful harlow logically reasoning extend cases one constitutional command exception rule conduct responds narrowly defined category factual situations clearly established dispute whether situation officer confronted fits within category cf gomez toledo defendant burden pleading good faith affirmative defense reliance objective reasonableness official conduct measured reference clearly established law avoid excessive disruption government permit resolution many insubstantial claims summary judgment summary judgment judge appropriately may determine currently applicable law whether law clearly established time action occurred law time clearly established official reasonably expected anticipate subsequent legal developments fairly said know law forbade conduct previously identified unlawful threshold immunity question resolved discovery allowed law clearly established immunity defense ordinarily fail since reasonably competent public official know law governing conduct harlow footnotes omitted appeals bivens justified defense basis need protect officer hazards associated trying predict whether agree assessment particular set facts constituted probable cause explained numerous dissents concurrences reversals especially last decade indicate even learned experienced jurists difficulty defining rules govern determination probable cause without warrant tries find way thicket police officer must held act peril bivens six unknown named agents federal bureau narcotics citations omitted inferable point remand appeals bivens ventilate question possible existence kind qualified privilege appeals sustained rather issue immunity bator mishkin shapiro wechsler hart wechsler federal courts federal system ed asserts assumption merely reflects holding last term malley briggs see ante malley case however rejected police officer claim entitled absolute immunity acted pursuant arrest warrant issued magistrate specifically declined accept petitioner invitation expand qualified immunity common law absolute immunity concluded case officer applying warrant rule qualified immunity based harlow standard give ample room mistaken judgments opinion carefully avoided comment warrantless searches proper application harlow cases claim qualified immunity evaluated advance discovery test clearly established law applied level generality laintiffs able convert rule qualified immunity cases plainly establish rule virtually unqualified liability ante consider possibility objective reasonableness officer conduct may depend resolution factual dispute dispute may preclude entry summary judgment despite intimation contrary see ante necessarily prevent jury resolving factual issues officer favor thereafter concluding conduct objectively reasonable also made argument district see memorandum points authorities record harlow standard qualified immunity precludes plaintiff alleging official malice order defeat defense adopting purely objective standard however harlow may inapplicable least two types cases first plaintiff obtain damages official culpable state mind established see allen scribner note qualified immunity government officials problem unconstitutional purpose civil rights litigation yale second official conduct susceptible determination violated clearly established law regulated extremely general deeply entrenched norm command due process probable cause principle clearly established whether brand official planned conduct illegal often ascertained without reference facts may dispute see reardon wroan police officers denied qualified immunity summary judgment conclusion probable cause found objectively unreasonable facts viewed light favorable plaintiffs jasinski adams per curiam federal agent denied qualified immunity summary judgment genuine issue probable cause deary three police officers police officers denied qualified immunity summary judgment genuine issue probable cause opinion reveals little interest facts case complaint unquestionably alleged violation clearly established rule law instead focuses attention hypothetical case complaint drafted passably clever plaintiff able allege violation extremely abstract rights ante concerned average citizen alleged law enforcement officers forced way home without warrant without probable cause constitutional rule allegedly violated case concrete clearly established see ante see brief petitioner frequently observed many cases point amply demonstrate difficulty determining whether particular searches seizures comport fourth amendment ante law enforcement officers whose judgments making difficult determinations objectively legally reasonable held personally liable damages officials making analogous determinations areas law ibid intense scrutiny people press congress traditional method deterring violations constitution high officers executive branch unless congress authorizes remedies presumably intends retributions violations undertaken political action congress best position decide whether incremental deterrence added civil damages remedy outweighs adverse effect exposure personal liability may governmental decisionmaking however balance struck surely national interest enabling cabinet officers responsibilities area perform sensitive duties decisiveness without potentially ruinous hesitation mitchell forsyth stevens concurring judgment exception searches conducted pursuant warrants intended signal unwillingness strictly enforce requirements fourth amendment believe effect already suggested exception turning objective reasonableness difficult apply practice officers acted pursuant warrant prosecution ordinarily able establish objective good faith without substantial expenditure judicial time leon question whether probable cause depends reasonably believed reference facts confronted judge instructed passage quoted earlier go instruct jury even police acted without probable cause exonerated reasonably though erroneously believed acting reasonably confuse jury give defendants two bites apple llaguno mingey posner en banc appeals described search respondents home detail opinion reads part follows case dismissed anderson motion summary judgment set facts light favorable creightons draw inferences underlying facts favor adickes kress night november sarisse robert creighton three young daughters spending quiet evening home spotlight suddenly flashed front window creighton opened door confronted several uniformed plain clothes officers many brandishing shotguns officers white creightons black creighton claims none officers responded asked wanted instead account verified paul police report one officers told keep hands sight officers rushed door creighton asked search warrant one officers told search warrant need one watch much tv creighton asked officers put guns away children frightened officers refused creighton awoke shrieking children confronted officer pointed shotgun allegedly observed officers yelling three daughters sit damn asses stop screaming asked officer hell going officer allegedly explain situation simply said make damn kids sit couch make shut one officers asked creighton red silver car creighton led officers downstairs garage maroon oldsmobile parked one officers punched face knocking ground causing bleed mouth forehead creighton alleges attempting move past officer open garage door officer panicked hit officer claims creighton attempted grab shotgun even though creighton suspect crime contraband home person shaunda creighton daughter witnessed assault screamed mother come help claims one officers hit creighton phoned mother officer allegedly kicked grabbed phone told hang damn phone told children run neighbor house safety children ran plain clothes officer chased creightons neighbor allegedly told creighton officer ran house grabbed shaunda shoulders shook neighbor allegedly told officer ca see shock leave alone get house creighton mother later brought shaunda emergency room children hospital arm injury caused officer rough handling melee family members friends began arriving creighton home creighton claims embarrassed front family friends invasion home rough treatment suspects major crime time asked anderson search warrant allegedly replied need damn search warrant looking fugitive officers discover allegedly unspecified fugitive creightons home evidence whatsoever creightons involved type criminal activity nonetheless officers arrested handcuffed creighton obstruction justice brought police station jailed overnight released without charged creighton paul citation omitted case involves rule applied conduct law enforcement officer employed federal government justice jackson dissenting opinion brinegar especially pertinent wrote part fourth amendment rights protest mere rights belong catalog indispensable freedoms among deprivations rights none effective cowing population crushing spirit individual putting terror every heart uncontrolled search seizure one first effective weapons arsenal every arbitrary government holding federal law enforcement officer immune reasonable officer believed search consistent fourth amendment raises difficulties application creation leon exception exclusionary rule police officer reliance invalid warrant objectively reasonable suppose example challenge search seizure conducted fbi agent defendant shows agent required aware fully aware relevant fourth amendment law reasonable reliance inquiry turn whether particular fbi agent conduct lived standards expected someone apprised apprised relevant fourth amendment law enough agent conduct met lower standard average police officer th individualized objective standard test leon motions suppress may well require far greater expenditure judicial time seems think devoted protecting fourth amendment interests wasserstrom mertens exclusionary rule scaffold fair trial crim rev footnotes omitted axiomatic physical entry home chief evil wording fourth amendment directed welsh wisconsin quoting district