Legal Definitions - official privilege

Definition: Official privilege is a special legal right, exemption, or immunity granted to a person or class of persons, which grants them the legal freedom to do or not to do a given act. It immunizes conduct that, under ordinary circumstances, would subject the actor to liability.

Example: An official privilege can be seen in the immunity granted to state officers from a defamation lawsuit for any statement made by one state officer to another in the course of official duty.

Explanation: This means that if a state officer makes a statement to another state officer in the course of their official duty, they cannot be sued for defamation, even if the statement is false and harmful. This is because they have official privilege, which grants them immunity from such lawsuits. This privilege is granted to protect state officers from being sued for carrying out their official duties, which may involve making statements that could be considered defamatory in other circumstances.