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McMillian v. Monroe County, Alabama

520 U.S. 781 (1997)

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McMillian v. Monroe County, Alabama

United States Supreme Court
520 U.S. 781 (1997)

  • Written by Whitney Kamerzel , JD

Facts

Walter McMillian (plaintiff) was convicted of murder in Monroe County, Alabama (defendant) and sentenced to death. Monroe County Sheriff Tom Tate (defendant) investigated the murder. The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals reversed McMillian’s conviction and, after six years in prison, released McMillian because it was discovered that the state had suppressed exculpatory evidence. McMillian sued Monroe County and Sheriff Tate in his official capacity as an official of Monroe County, not as an official of the state of Alabama. The federal district court dismissed the claims, holding that any actions by Sheriff Tate represented the state of Alabama and not Monroe County. The court of appeals affirmed. The Supreme Court granted certiorari.

Rule of Law

Issue

Holding and Reasoning (Rehnquist, J.)

Dissent (Ginsburg, J.)

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