Chisholm v. Georgia
2 U.S. (2 Dall.) 419 (1793)
📄 Read the Actual Opinion
U.S. Reports opinion (PDF) →📋 Summary of the Opinion
A South Carolina citizen sued the State of Georgia in federal court. The Supreme Court allowed it under Article III jurisdiction.
⚖️ Why It Mattered
The decision sparked outrage and directly led to the Eleventh Amendment, which barred such suits and reshaped state sovereign immunity.
✅ What It Provided or Took Away
✅ Provided:
For a short time, federal courts could hear suits by private citizens against states.
❌ Took Away:
Quickly reversed by the Eleventh Amendment, restoring broad immunity to states.
🤔 Overreach or Proper Role?
It was a bold, text-driven reading of Article III, but many saw it as intruding on state sovereignty. The quick amendment showed how constitutional checks worked against perceived overreach.
💡 Plain-English Impact Today
You generally cannot sue a state in federal court for money damages without its consent or a valid federal override.