Immunities and inequality before the law : reflections on recent events

Abstract

Equality before the law did not always exist. Quite the contrary. Equality before the law is a massive human achievement secured over hundreds of years of idealism, clear thinking, persistence, and a couple of revolutions.

There is however increasing inclination for government officials and public entities to secure, for themselves, higher degrees of immunity from legal liability for their actions; in effect placing themselves above the law and extricating themselves from judicial scrutiny. [extract]