The president is entitled to absolute immunity from legal liability for civil damages based on his official acts. The president is not immune from criminal charges stemming from his official or unofficial acts while he is in office. Decided June 24, 1982 (argued November 30, 1981). Opinion of the Court: Powell Dissenting: White, Blackmun. Topic: Domestic. Nixon v. Fitzgerald, 457 U.S. 731 (1982), was a United States Supreme Court decision written by Justice Lewis Powell dealing with presidential immunity from civil liability for actions taken while in office. The Court held that a president "is entitled to absolute immunity from damages liability predicated on his official acts." Wiki link