Legal Opinion
Dodson v. Polk County
Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Decided August 26, 1980No. 79-1996PublishedCited by 20 opinions
1Opinion of the Court
ARNOLD, Circuit Judge.
This appeal presents two related questions concerning the liability under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 of a county-employed public defender: First, whether a public defender, in representing an indigent defendant, acts under color of state law; and second, whether the defender enjoys immunity, either qualified or absolute, for conduct during that representation. The complaint alleged that Martha Shepard, an attorney in the Polk County, Iowa, Offender Advocate’s office, failed to represent appellant adequately in his appeal of a robbery conviction to the Supreme Court of Iowa.…
2Cases cited20 opinions
- Monell v. New York City Dept. of Social Servs.Supreme Court of the United States · 1978
- Haines v. KernerSupreme Court of the United States · 1972
- Imbler v. PachtmanSupreme Court of the United States · 1976
- Pierson v. RaySupreme Court of the United States · 1967
- Gomez v. ToledoSupreme Court of the United States · 1980
15 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by20 opinions
- Harry Franklin v. State of Oregon, State Welfare DivisionCourt of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit · 1981
- State v. HaleyAlaska Supreme Court · 1984
- Black v. BayerCourt of Appeals for the Third Circuit · 1982
- Keating v. MartinCourt of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit · 1980
- Dick v. Watonwan CountyCourt of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit · 1984
15 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.