Final answer:
Prosecutors are typically immune from lawsuits due to prosecutorial immunity, which grants them total immunity from suit for actions within the scope of their job. This immunity ensures prosecutors can carry out their duties without fear of personal liability. However, immunity does not extend to misconduct or violation of constitutional rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
A prosecutor is typically immune from lawsuit due to the principle of prosecutorial immunity. This refers to total immunity for a prosecutor from suit and means that prosecutors cannot be held personally liable for actions done within the scope of their job during the prosecutorial process, such as initiating charges or presenting evidence in court.
Prosecutorial immunity is important to ensure that prosecutors can carry out their duties without fear of being sued, enabling them to make tough decisions and exercise their judgment in the pursuit of justice. However, this immunity does not extend to situations where a prosecutor engages in misconduct or violates clearly established constitutional rights.
For example, in the case of Imbler v. Pachtman, the Supreme Court recognized that prosecutors have absolute immunity from civil lawsuits for actions performed as part of their role as advocates for the state.