This course is designed to provide an in-depth understanding of Section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act of 1871 and its impact on government officials, employees, and private entities acting under the color of law. Participants will explore landmark cases that have shaped the interpretation and application of Section 1983, including Monroe v. Pape, the Judicial Improvement Act of 1990, the public impact of the Rodney King incident, Garcetti v. Ceballos, and more.

The course will delve into the intricacies of Section 1983 actions and how proper police conduct can lead to liability under certain circumstances, including the difficulty of proving deprivation of constitutional rights and malicious intent. The discussion will cover settlements and apologies, false arrest, and deprivation of constitutional rights, along with caveats and patterns of conduct.

The course will also highlight notable case law pre-1990, such as Brown v. Board of Education, Gideon v. Wainwright, and Miranda v. Arizona, and how these decisions relate to Section 1983 cases. Furthermore, participants will learn about becoming a state actor, the public function test, and the story of Mireles v. Waco. The discussion will also cover whether judges and prosecutors can be held liable for their actions, and if so, under what circumstances.

The course will conclude with an examination of dual jurisdiction and concurrent jurisdiction in legal cases, including the tension between state and federal courts in Section 1983 cases, discovery, state-created danger, and local government liability.

By the end of the course, participants will have a comprehensive understanding of Section 1983 and how it affects the conduct of state officials, government employees, and private entities acting under the color of law.

Some of the topics discussed include:

History of Section 1983
Duty of rescue for government employees
Off-duty officers and the color of law
Free speech for government employees
False arrests and deprivation of constitutional rights
Settlements and apologies in public incidents
Caveats and pattern of conduct
Notable case law influencing Section 1983
Becoming a state actor
Judges' liability and protection
Prosecutors' immunity and related case law
Local governments' liability and immunity
Dual jurisdiction and concurrent jurisdiction in legal cases
Discovery in Section 1983 cases
State-created danger doctrine
Qualified immunity