The Supreme Court on Monday appeared likely to bar federal prison inmates from suing officials who deny them medical treatment in the latest case seeking to roll back the ability to hold federal officials accountable for alleged constitutional violations.
The court heard oral arguments over a claim brought by a former federal prison inmate, Kekai Watanabe, who alleges he was denied medical treatment by officers at a Honolulu-based facility in July 2021 after he was beaten by other prisoners during a gang riot.
The case focuses on the scope of a 1971 Supreme Court ruling called Bivens v. Six Unknown Fed. Narcotics Agents, which for the first time allowed people to sue federal officials, including prison officials, for civil rights violations.
The Trump administration’s recent immigration crackdowns have again put the spotlight on the lack of avenues for accountability for agents who face accusations of violating the Constitution.
This is how the camps turn death.
The prisoners. they yearn for the, uh. prisons. and being slave labor… they don’t need to sue… not really…
Seems like a part of what they’re saying is since the government can be sued there’s no need to sue the individual.
People should definitely be able to sue the government, but it’s unbelievable to me that the justice system thinks that the individual responsible for the crime should not be held personally responsible. I think it’s important so that the case shows up on any search regarding their history, but also just for general accountability. They need to know they will be held personally responsible and they can’t just pass that responsibility on the the federal government as their employer. In no other situation would that be possible. If you beat someone up at your place of work you can’t just tell the person you beat up that your boss is responsible because you were on the clock.
I really hope congress does more to protect the rights of prisoners and detainees now that Dems will have the majority.
Will they change their minds in February 2028?
