immunity

Legal protection from liability, obligation, or penalty. Types of immunity include (1) Criminal immunity conferred on a witness to secure vital testimony, revelation of which may otherwise incriminate the witness; (2) Judicial immunity protects a judge from implication of words or actions arising in the exercise of judicial duties, and (3) Sovereign immunity protects a government and agencies from civil (non-criminal) liability. The last two types of immunity are inherent in an office or situation.