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POLK COUNTY v. DODSON

No. 80-824.

454 U.S. 312 (1981)

POLK COUNTY ET AL. v. DODSON

Supreme Court of United States.

Decided December 14, 1981

Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Norman G. Jesse argued the cause for petitioners. With him on the briefs was Dan L. Johnston.

John D. Hudson, by appointment of the Court, 450 U.S. 992, argued the cause and filed a brief for respondent.

Edwin S. Kneedler argued the cause for the United States as amicus curiae urging affirmance. On the brief were Acting Solicitor General Wallace, Acting Assistant Attorney General Turner, Elinor Hadley Stillman, Walter W. Barnett, and Louise A. Lerner.*

JUSTICE POWELL delivered the opinion of the Court.

The question in this case is whether a public defender acts "under color of state law" when representing an indigent defendant in a state criminal proceeding.

I

This case arose when the respondent Russell Richard Dodson filed a pro se complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa. Dodson brought the action in federal...

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