Legal immunity from suit or liability (in civil litigation) or immunity from prosecution (in criminal prosecutions) is a legal status that protects an individual or entity from liability or criminal prosecution. Immunity may be given to the person or entity by law (usually a state or federal statute) or by the agreement of a party to the litigation (usually in the context of a criminal prosecution)—generally for some greater policy goal. Some common types of immunity include (1) judicial immunity; (2) witness immunity; (3) diplomatic immunity; and (4) governmental or sovereign immunity.

In Connecticut, legal immunity from suit or liability in civil litigation and from prosecution in criminal cases is recognized in various forms. Judicial immunity in Connecticut protects judges from being sued for their judicial acts, provided those acts are within their jurisdiction and performed in a judicial capacity. Witness immunity is often granted to witnesses to encourage truthful testimony without the fear of subsequent prosecution based on that testimony; this can be transactional immunity (complete protection from prosecution for the offense to which the testimony relates) or use and derivative use immunity (protection from the use of the witness's own testimony or any evidence derived from it in a prosecution). Diplomatic immunity is governed by federal law and international treaties, which Connecticut recognizes, providing foreign diplomats with protection from civil and criminal jurisdiction depending on their status and the nature of the act. Governmental or sovereign immunity shields the state and its subdivisions, including agencies and officials, from lawsuits unless the state has consented to be sued, typically through statutes such as the Connecticut Tort Claims Act. This Act allows for certain claims to be brought against the state with limitations and procedures that must be followed. It's important to note that the specifics of immunity can vary based on the context and the laws applicable to the particular situation.