Brett Kavanaugh hits pause on state ballot measure to end 'qualified immunity'

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh issued an administrative stay on an Ohio ballot initiative.

Ohio voters signed enough petitions to get a measure included on the November ballot that, if passed, would end qualified immunity, the Ohio Capitol Journal reported in December.

Qualified immunity is the legal doctrine that the American Bar Association describes as "shielding government officials," which includes law enforcement, from any civil liability unless their actions violate constitutional rights and it can be proven that they acted with malicious intent or violated someone's civil rights.

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The measure on the ballot would remove this from state law, but officials blocked the initiative, according to Slate legal analyst Mark Joseph Stern.

He added that the officials' actions were made on "highly questionable grounds that, per the 6th Circuit, violate free speech."

On Thursday, Kavanaugh interjected, issuing "an administrative stay" on the order from the 6th Circuit.

The appeals court ruling "is hereby stayed pending further order of the undersigned or of the Court," wrote Roberts.

See the stay order here.