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Article: 'HITCHING POST' OFFICERS LOSE IMMUNITY
- Article from:
- United Press International
- Article date:
- June 27, 2002
CopyrightProvided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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'Hitching post' officers lose immunity
WASHINGTON, Jun 27, 2002 (United Press International via COMTEX) -
- The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that when government officials
knowingly and spectacularly violate someone's civil rights, they can'
t expect immunity in court.
The ruling came in the case of Alabama guards who tied a prisoner
to a "hitching post" for hours in the sun as a disciplinary measure.
Speaking for the 6-3 majority, Justice David Souter cited 1986's Whitley
vs. Albers: "The unnecessary and wanton infliction of pain ... constitutes
cruel and unusual punishment."
"Cruel and unusual punishments" are banned by the Eighth ...