'' Ashcroft v. Iqbal '' , 556 U.S. 662 ( 2009 ) , was a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court held that top government officials were not liable for the actions of their subordinates without evidence that they ordered the allegedly discriminatory activity . At issue was whether current and former federal officials , including FBI Director Robert Mueller and former United States Attorney General John Ashcroft , were entitled to qualified immunity against an allegation that they knew of or condoned racial and religious discrimination against individuals detained after the September 11 attacks . The decision also " transformed civil litigation in the federal courts " by making it much easier for courts to dismiss individuals ' suits
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Ashcroft v. Iqbal