McMillian v. Monroe County, Alabama (1996)
- Docket
- 96-542
- Decided
- 1996-01-01
Summary
Question: Is a county liable for constitutional violations committed by the county sheriff in matters of law enforcement? Conclusion: No. In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court affirmed the lower courts. The opinion by Chief Justice William Rehnquist held that because the county had no authority to make law enforcement policy, Sheriff Tate as a policymaker represented the state rather than the county. According to the Alabama Constitution and the Alabama Code, the Court held, Alabama sheriffs "act for the State when exercising their law enforcement functions."