Pennhurst Doctrine

Definition

A rule from the Supreme Court's decision in Pennhurst State School v. Halderman holding that federal courts cannot order state officials to comply with state law when the state has sovereign immunity. It limits the types of claims that can be brought against state entities in federal court.

Examples

• •NJ Transit warned that if it is deemed not to be the state, federal courts could issue state-law injunctions against it, circumventing Pennhurst's protections.

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