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 Michigan, legal immunity from suit or liability in civil litigation and from prosecution in criminal cases is recognized in various forms. Judicial immunity provides judges and court officers with protection from liability for acts performed in the exercise of their judicial functions. Witness immunity may be granted to witnesses to encourage truthful testimony without the fear of subsequent prosecution based on that testimony. Diplomatic immunity is governed by federal law and international treaties, protecting foreign diplomats from legal action in the U.S. Governmental or sovereign immunity shields the state of Michigan, its agencies, and its employees from being sued in certain instances, unless the state has consented to the suit through legislation or the claim falls under exceptions provided by the Michigan Governmental Tort Liability Act. It's important to note that the scope and application of immunity can be complex and may vary depending on the specific circumstances and the type of immunity claimed.