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Zorn v. Linton · ¶2

Held: Because the Second Circuit failed to identify a case where an officer using a routine wristlock on a protester after issuing a verbal warning, without more, was held to have violated the Constitution, Zorn was entitled to qualified immunity. Government officials enjoy qualified immunity from suit under § 1983 unless their conduct violates clearly established law. Rivas-Villegas v. Cortesluna, 595 U. S. 1, 5 (per cu riam). To find that a right is clearly established, courts generally “need to identify a case where an officer acting under similar circumstances . . . was held to have violated” the Constitution. Escondido v. Emmons, 586 U. S. 38, 43 (per curiam) (internal quotation marks omitted). The relevant precedent must define the right with a “high degree of specifcity,” so that “every reasonable official would interpret it to establish the particular rule the plaintiff seeks to…
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