Will v. Michigan Department of State Police, 491 U.S. 58 (1989)

E403306

Will v. Michigan Department of State Police, 491 U.S. 58 (1989), is a U.S. Supreme Court decision holding that neither a State nor its officials acting in their official capacities are “persons” subject to damages liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.

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Statements (36)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Section 1983 case
U.S. Supreme Court decision
United States Supreme Court case
federal civil rights case
areaOfLaw civil rights law
constitutional law
federal courts and jurisdiction
sovereign immunity
citation 491 U.S. 58
citationStyle United States Reports
clarifies that § 1983 does not abrogate state sovereign immunity for damages suits
country United States of America
surface form: United States
court Supreme Court of the United States
decisionDate 1989
effect distinguishes between official-capacity and individual-capacity suits under § 1983
limits damages actions under § 1983 against States
limits damages actions under § 1983 against state officials in their official capacities
firstPage 58
holding a State is not a “person” subject to damages liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983
state officials acting in their official capacities are not “persons” subject to damages liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983
state officials sued in their official capacities for damages are not subject to suit under § 1983
jurisdiction federal question jurisdiction
languageOfDecision English
legalIssue whether a State is a “person” under 42 U.S.C. § 1983
whether state officials sued in their official capacities are “persons” under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 for damages
petitioner Will
relatedDoctrine Eleventh Amendment immunity
Section 1983 “person” requirement
official-capacity suits
state sovereign immunity
reporter United States of America
surface form: U.S.
reporterVolume 491
respondent Michigan State Police
surface form: Michigan Department of State Police
statuteInterpreted 42 U.S.C. § 1983
term October Term 1988
yearDecided 1989

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42 U.S.C. § 1983 interpretedBy Will v. Michigan Department of State Police, 491 U.S. 58 (1989)