A lawsuit followed after a clerical error by court staff resulted in a man being arrested twice for an offense to which he’d already pled guilty and resolved.

But when Henry Stanley sued Atlanta Municipal Court employees in their individual capacities, alleging their negligence on the job resulted in his improper arrest, the defendants received the same immunity from civil liability afforded to judges, sparking a legal debate before the Supreme Court of Georgia.

‘Not Entitled to Immunity’

Appellant attorney Craig T. Jones of Washington, Georgia arguing in Stanley v. Patterson et. al (S21G0405). Image from court video Appellant attorney Craig T. Jones of Washington, Georgia. (Image from court video)