malley briggs argued november decided march basis monitoring two telephone calls pursuant wiretap telephone acquaintance respondents daughter petitioner rhode island state trooper hereafter petitioner prepared felony complaints charging respondents possession marihuana complaints presented state judge accompanied arrest warrants supporting affidavits judge signed warrants respondents arrested charges subsequently dropped grand jury return indictment respondents brought damages action federal district alleging petitioner applying arrest warrants violated rights fourth fourteenth amendments case tried jury granting directed verdict petitioner grounds close respondents evidence stated police officer believes facts stated affidavit true submits neutral magistrate may entitled immunity objective reasonableness standard harlow fitzgerald appeals reversed held petitioner entitled absolute immunity qualified immunity liability damages pp neither common law public policy affords support absolute immunity immunity permitted basis petitioner function seeking arrest warrants similar complaining witness since complaining witnesses absolutely immune common law matter public policy qualified immunity provides ample protection plainly incompetent knowingly violate law tradition absolute immunity police officer requesting warrant comparable afforded prosecutor common law case officer applying warrant judicial process whole benefit rule qualified rather absolute immunity harlow objective reasonableness standard gives ample room mistaken judgments deter officer submitting affidavit probable cause make arrest defines qualified immunity accorded officer whose request warrant allegedly caused unconstitutional arrest pp petitioner avoid liability rule qualified immunity grounds act applying arrest warrant per se objectively reasonable officer believes facts alleged affidavit true entitled rely judicial officer judgment issuing warrant hence finding probable cause exists question whether reasonably officer petitioner position known affidavit failed establish probable cause applied warrant case application warrant objectively reasonable created unnecessary danger unlawful arrest pp white delivered opinion burger brennan marshall blackmun stevens joined powell filed opinion concurring part dissenting part rehnquist joined post ann sheadel assistant attorney general rhode island argued cause petitioners brief arlene violet attorney general leonard decof argued cause respondents brief john foley briefs amici curiae urging reversal filed state minnesota et al hubert humphrey iii attorney general minnesota catharine haukedahl special assistant attorney general charles graddick attorney general alabama robert corbin attorney general arizona john van de kamp attorney general california jim smith attorney general florida michael bowers attorney general georgia corinne watanabe acting attorney general hawaii jim jones attorney general idaho linley pearson attorney general indiana robert stephan attorney general kansas william guste attorney general louisiana frank kelley attorney general michigan edwin lloyd pittman attorney general mississippi william webster attorney general missouri mike greely attorney general montana robert spire attorney general nebraska brian mckay attorney general nevada stephen merrill attorney general new hampshire irwin kimmelman attorney general new jersey lacy thornburg attorney general north carolina anthony celebrezze attorney general ohio david frohnmayer attorney general oregon leroy zimmerman attorney general pennsylvania travis medlock attorney general south carolina michael cody attorney general tennessee david wilkinson attorney general utah william broaddus attorney general virginia bronson la follette attorney general wisconsin mcclintock attorney general wyoming americans effective law enforcement et al david crump daniel hales fred inbau wayne schmidt james manak steven lockman jack novik burt neuborne lynette labinger filed brief american civil liberties union et al amici curiae justice white delivered opinion case presents question degree immunity accorded defendant police officer damages action alleged officer caused plaintiffs unconstitutionally arrested presenting judge complaint supporting affidavit failed establish probable cause december rhode island state police conducting wiretap telephone one paul driscoll acquaintance respondents daughter december police intercepted call driscoll unknown individual identified dr shogun police logsheet summarizes call follows general conversation party went last night caller says ca believe token sic front jimmy briggs caller passed louisa paul says nancy sitting lap rolling thing app petitioner edward malley hereafter petitioner rhode island state trooper charge investigation driscoll reviewing logsheet december petitioner decided call shogun incriminating drug parlance toking means smoking marihuana rolling thing refers rolling marihuana cigarette petitioner also concluded another call monitored day showed party discussed driscoll shogun took place respondents house basis two calls petitioner drew felony complaints charging respondents paul driscoll unlawfully conspire violate uniform controlled substance act state rhode island marihuana possession complaints presented state district judge february wiretap driscoll phone terminated accompanying complaints unsigned warrants respondent arrest supporting affidavits describing two intercepted calls petitioner interpretation judge signed warrants arrest respondents individuals charged petitioner result information gathered wiretap respondents arrested home shortly six morning march taken police station booked held several hours arraigned released local statewide newspapers published fact respondents prominent members community arrested charged drug possession charges respondents subsequently dropped grand jury case presented return indictment respondents brought action district district rhode island charging inter alia petitioner applying warrants arrest violated rights fourth fourteenth amendments case tried jury close respondents evidence petitioner moved granted directed verdict district primary justification directing verdict act judge issuing arrest warrants respondents broke causal chain petitioner filing complaint respondents arrest also stated officer believes facts stated affidavit true submits neutral magistrate may thereby entitled immunity objective reasonableness standard harlow fitzgerald appeals first circuit reversed holding officer seeks arrest warrant submitting complaint supporting affidavit judge entitled immunity unless officer objectively reasonable basis believing facts alleged affidavit sufficient establish probable cause granted certiorari order review first circuit application objective reasonableness standard context affirm ii petitioner urges reversal two grounds first context absolutely immune liability damages second least entitled qualified immunity case reject propositions address first absolute immunity issue general approach questions immunity well established although statute face admits immunities read harmony general principles tort immunities defenses rather derogation imbler pachtman initial inquiry whether official claiming immunity point counterpart privilege asserts tower glover official accorded immunity tort actions common law civil rights act enacted next considers whether history purposes nonetheless counsel recognizing immunity actions thus look common law guidance assume congress intended incorporate every immunity unaltered form cases also make plain executive officers general qualified immunity represents norm harlow supra like federal officers state officers seek absolute exemption personal liability unconstitutional conduct must bear burden showing public policy requires exemption scope butz economou although previously held police officers sued false arrest qualifiedly immune pierson ray petitioner urges absolutely immune function seeking arrest warrant similar complaining witness difficulty submission complaining witnesses absolutely immune common law generally accepted rule one procured issuance arrest warrant submitting complaint held liable complaint made maliciously without probable cause given malice lack probable cause complainant enjoyed immunity common law thus affords support petitioner moved petitioner argument policy considerations require absolute immunity officer applying warrant qualified immunity defense evolved provides ample protection plainly incompetent knowingly violate law common law cases probable cause arrest lacking complaining witness immunity turned issue malice jury question harlow standard hand allegation malice sufficient defeat immunity defendant acted objectively reasonable manner harlow standard specifically designed avoid excessive disruption government permit resolution many insubstantial claims summary judgment believe sufficiently serves goal defendants immune objective basis obvious reasonably competent officer concluded warrant issue officers reasonable competence disagree issue immunity recognized alternative ground claiming absolute immunity petitioner draws analogy officer requesting warrant prosecutor asks grand jury indict suspect like prosecutor petitioner argues officer must exercise discretionary judgment based evidence like prosecutor officer may exercise best judgment threat retaliatory lawsuits hangs thus petitioner urges us read giving officer absolute immunity enjoyed prosecutor cf imbler pachtman reemphasize role interpret intent congress enacting make freewheeling policy choice guided interpreting congress intent tradition imbler supra concluded common law general rule prosecutor absolutely immune suit malicious prosecution find comparable tradition absolute immunity one whose complaint causes warrant issue see supra observation may seem unresponsive petitioner policy argument believe important guide interpreting since statute face provide immunities going far read absolute immunity conduct accorded qualified immunity even overlook fact petitioner inviting us expand qualified immunity common law absolute immunity find analogy prosecutor untenable interpreted give absolute immunity functions intimately associated judicial phase criminal process imbler supra emphasis added exaggerated esteem perform functions certainly desire shield abuses office lesser degree immunity impair judicial process briscoe lahue intend disrespect officer applying warrant observing action vital part administration criminal justice removed judicial phase criminal proceedings act prosecutor seeking indictment furthermore petitioner analogy force take account fact prosecutor act seeking indictment first step process seeking conviction exposing prosecutor liability initial phase prosecutorial work interfere exercise independent judgment every phase work since prosecutor might come see later decisions terms effect potential liability thus shield prosecutor seeking indictment lesser immunity impair performance central actor judicial process case officer applying warrant judgment judicial process whole benefit rule qualified rather absolute immunity believe harlow standard gives ample room mistaken judgments frequently deter officer submitting affidavit probable cause make arrest present true officer knows objectively unreasonable decisions actionable may motivated reflect submitting request warrant upon whether reasonable basis believing affidavit establishes probable cause reflection desirable reduces likelihood officer request warrant premature premature requests warrants best waste judicial resources worst lead premature arrests may injure innocent giving basis suppression motion benefit guilty furthermore incongruous test police behavior objective reasonableness standard suppression hearing see leon exempting police conduct applying arrest search warrant scrutiny whatsoever damages action believe exclusionary rule serves necessary purpose obviously considerable cost society whole excludes evidence probative guilt hand damages remedy arrest following objectively unreasonable request warrant imposes cost directly officer responsible unreasonable request without side effect hampering criminal prosecution also case action likelihood obviously greater suppression hearing remedy benefiting victim police misconduct one think deserving remedy person fact done wrong arrested reason bad reason see owen city independence accordingly hold standard objective reasonableness applied context suppression hearing leon supra defines qualified immunity accorded officer whose request warrant allegedly caused unconstitutional arrest warrant application lacking indicia probable cause render official belief existence unreasonable leon supra shield immunity lost iii also reject petitioner argument officer entitled qualified immunity cases like nevertheless shielded damages liability act applying warrant per se objectively reasonable provided officer believes facts alleged affidavit true petitioner insists entitled rely judgment judicial officer finding probable cause exists hence issuing warrant view objective reasonableness odds development concept harlow leon leon stated inquiry confined objectively ascertainable question whether reasonably officer known search illegal despite magistrate authorization analogous question case whether reasonably officer petitioner position known affidavit failed establish probable cause applied warrant case officer application warrant objectively reasonable created unnecessary danger unlawful arrest true ideal system unreasonable request warrant harmless judge approve ideal system possible magistrate working docket pressures fail perform magistrate find reasonable require officer applying warrant minimize danger exercising reasonable professional judgment judgment appeals affirmed case remanded proceedings consistent opinion ordered footnotes harlow suit federal state officials stated deciding case untenable draw distinction purposes immunity law suits brought state officials suits brought directly constitution federal officials quoting butz economou see dinsman wilkes randall henry stew bell keepers finn frink wait actions defenses rule applied case search warrants see barker stetson mass carey sheets ind see wait supra whether malice proved question fact jury organized bar development enforcement professional standards prosecutors also lessen danger absolute immunity become shield prosecutorial misconduct observed imbler prosecutor stands perhaps unique among officials whose acts deprive persons constitutional rights amenability professional discipline association peers omitted absence comparably pervasive mechanism controlling police misconduct weighs allowing absolute immunity officer although case us concerns damages action officer part obtaining allegedly unconstitutional arrest warrant distinction search warrant arrest warrant make difference degree immunity accorded officer applied warrant petitioner pressed argument case like officer liable judge decision issue warrant breaks causal chain application warrant improvident arrest clear however district causation rationale case inconsistent interpretation stated monroe pape read background tort liability makes man responsible natural consequences actions since common law recognized causal link submission complaint ensuing arrest read recognizing causal link question presented us decide whether petitioner conduct case fact objectively reasonable issue must resolved remand notwithstanding petitioner protestations rule adopt way requires police officer assume role even skilled magistrate brief petitioners sound presumption magistrate qualified police officer make probable cause determination goes without saying magistrate acts mistakenly issuing warrant within range professional competence magistrate officer requested warrant held liable different officer reasonable competence requested warrant request outside range professional competence expected officer magistrate issues warrant case action reasonable mistake unacceptable error indicating gross incompetence neglect duty officer excuse default pointing greater incompetence magistrate justice powell justice rehnquist joins concurring part dissenting part although agree much opinion write separately emphasize substantial weight accorded judge finding probable cause determining whether petitioner state trooper hereafter petitioner personally liable damages also believe summary judgment appropriate respondents failed show petitioner decision request warrant objectively reasonable outset supplement facts stated petitioner supervising wiretap narcotics investigation pursuant order rhode island superior appears logged conversation recorded wiretap jimmy briggs luisa sic briggs attended party present possessed used marihuana marihuana cigarette may passed briggs conversation also referred party going held respondents home attended people fair inference log respondents hosting marihuana party similar earlier one basis conversation petitioner partner decided seek warrants respondents possessing marihuana petitioner presented affidavits judge capelli rhode island district judge judge capelli reviewed affidavits entered order stating authorized officer affidavit complaint made oath satisfied probable cause belief therein set forth grounds issuing arrest warrant exists sic hereby commanded arrest defendant forthwith bring judge without unnecessary delay respondents prominent citizens community never previously implicated violation criminal laws grand jury return indictment instituted suit seeking hold petitioner personally liable damages district directed verdict petitioner held judge capelli finding probable cause issuance arrest warrants immunized petitioner respondents claim damages appeals first circuit reversed holding liability attach officer constitutionally negligent officer known facts recited affidavit constitute probable cause appeals also denied petitioner claim immunity purporting apply standard objective reasonableness qualified immunity articulated harlow fitzgerald today affirms ii agree decision petitioner entitled absolute immunity harlow standard qualified immunity objective reasonableness properly applies harlow however held government officials performing discretionary functions generally shielded liability civil damages insofar conduct violate clearly established statutory constitutional rights reasonable person known putting differently also stated claim qualified immunity defeated official knew reasonably known action took within sphere official responsibility violate constitutional rights plaintiff quoting wood strickland one point opinion today correctly recognizes qualified immunity defense evolved provides ample protection plainly incompetent knowingly violate law ante emphasis added also says liability attach objective basis obvious reasonably competent officer concluded warrant issue officers reasonable competence disagree issue immunity recognized ibid agree foregoing characterizations applicable standard official raises defense qualified immunity disagree however two major respects first rather deciding whether petitioner conduct met foregoing standard remands trial issue yet recognizes unless reasonably competent officer concluded warrant issue petitioner immune damages ibid view light logs duly authorized wiretap reasonably competent officer believed warrant issue undisputed wiretaps initiated part drug investigation revealed respondents attended party marihuana smoked marihuana cigarette may passed briggs another party least inferentially similar type held respondents home harlow standard need consider whether information viewed every reasonable officer sufficient evidence probable cause issuance warrant police often operate midst haste criminal investigation ventresca make judgment calls reasonable officers differ case logs wiretap least arguably implicated respondents unlawful activities see supra circumstances officer reasonable competence believed wiretap provided probable cause arrest respondents second perhaps greater importance determining whether police officer acted objective reasonableness apparently give little evidentiary weight finding probable cause magistrate judicial officer quotes leon inquiry confined objectively ascertainable question whether reasonably officer known search illegal despite magistrate authorization ante emphasis added although quotation foreclose consideration district judge judicial decision seems denigrate relevance judge determination probable cause role issuance warrant view misconstrues respective roles relationship police officer magistrate judicial officer cases criminal defendant asserted claims unconstitutional search seizure consistently accorded primary evidentiary weight magistrate determination probable cause reason articulated certainly none occurs less weight accorded magistrate decision damages suit police officer applied warrant common law long recognized reasonable division functions baker mccollan law enforcement gathering information province police weighing judging information virtually exclusive province magistrate lord mansfield stated two centuries ago fit receiving judging information left discretion officer magistrate judge give certain directions officer leach three king messengers tr quoted district affirmed arrest warrant represent efforts officer gather evidence wrongful acts judgment magistrate collected evidence sufficient justify issuance warrant district supra also recognized informed deliberate determinations magistrates preferred hurried actions officers lefkowitz judicial evaluation probable cause magistrate essential checkpoint government citizen steagald stated arkansas sanders prominent place warrant requirement given decisions reflects basic constitutional doctrine individual freedoms best preserved separation powers division functions among different branches levels government district supra requiring conclusions concerning probable cause scope search drawn neutral detached magistrate instead judged officer engaged often competitive enterprise ferreting crime johnson minimize risk unreasonable assertions executive authority iii long sought divide functions law enforcement impose magistrate primary responsibility determining whether warrant issue inconsistent jurisprudence imply hold magistrate determination probable cause irrelevant suit judicial officer judgment call determining probable cause although conclusive entitled substantial evidentiary weight suits seeking impose personal liability police officer case light judge determination evidence illegal activity hold petitioner immune damages agree judgment declining accord absolute immunity officer seeking warrant join opinion dissent decision remand case trial immunity issue state police successfully sought additional arrest warrants connection narcotics investigation record disclose many warrants resulted indictments trooper malley attachment affidavit seeking warrant arrest james briggs stated affiant upon oath reason believe believe grounds issuance arrest warrant exists sic following facts belief founded persuant sic ordered wire intercept december incoming call received paul driscoll recorded reel side footage unidentified male calls paul driscoll doctor shotgun sic general conversation reference party went last night caller ca believe token front jimmy briggs caller passed luisa sic caller paul talk another party going tonight paul says nancy sitting lap rolling thing date reel footage male subject scott calls paul driscoll general conversation party jaime parents respondents home also went last night referring jaime parents home james luisa briggs regard conversation unidentified male called doctor shotgun sic stated token front jimmy briggs affiant experience smoking marijuana cigarette front james briggs passed luisa luisa luisa briggs passed marijuana cigarette paul nancy sitting lap rolling thing rolling marijuana cigarette app respondents sought million compensatory damages million punitive damages although affidavit trooper malley stated marihuana cigarette passed briggs call log simply caller passed louisa subsequent call driscoll mentioned louisa bungershort probably connection party ibid possible marihuana cigarette passed louisa bungershort rather louisa briggs trial briggs denied seeing marihuana party receiving marihuana cigarette words magistrate judicial officer often used interchangeably opinions shadwick city tampa emphasis magistrates directed need independent neutral detached judgment legal training north russell observes ideal system possible magistrate working docket pressures fail perform magistrate ante question possibility magistrates cases may fail perform magistrate one suggests case previously stated magistrate serves merely rubber stamp police unable exercise mature judgment closer supervision removal provides effective remedy exclusionary rule leon also believe closer supervision removal provides effective remedy personal liability police officers ventresca stated begin analysis fourth amendment mindful fact case search made pursuant search warrant jones strongly supporting preference accorded searches warrant indicated doubtful marginal case search warrant may sustainable without one fall johnson chapman condemning searches officers invaded premises without warrant plainly intimated proper course obtaining warrant magistrate followed magistrate evidence available police made finding probable cause search warrant sustained course instances plainly evident magistrate judge ha business issuing warrant illinois gates white concurring judgment magistrate wholly abandoned judicial role manner condemned sales new york magistrate approval warrant necessarily probative whether officer request warrant objectively reasonable course true actions police must comport constitution police departments prosecutors obligation instill understanding officers discipline found violated constitution