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In a landmark 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday struck down Alabama’s exhaustion rule, which required individuals to complete state administrative appeals before filing federal civil rights lawsuits in local courts. The justices ruled the law was an unconstitutional roadblock that violated federal precedent, significantly reshaping how civil rights claims can be pursued.

The ruling delivers a blow to state-mandated procedural hurdles, ensuring that federal civil rights protections remain accessible, even when state systems create delays or roadblocks.

Alabama’s Defense Falls Short

The case originated with Nancy Williams and 21 other Alabamians, who argued that extreme delays in Alabama’s unemployment benefits processing amounted to a violation of their due process rights under the Social Security Act. They pointed to two key Supreme Court precedents—Patsy v. Board of Regents (1982) and Felder v. Casey (1988)—which had previously struck down state exhaustion requirements for federal civil rights claims.

Former Alabama Secretary of Labor Fitzgerald Washington, however, countered that the state’s rule was not an unconstitutional barrier, but rather a jurisdictional guideline for state courts.

Despite this argument, the majority ruled that Alabama’s requirement effectively shielded state officials from accountability, clashing with long-standing federal civil rights protections.

A Decision with Far-Reaching Impact

This ruling reinforces the federal judiciary’s authority over state courts when civil rights violations are alleged. It extends the Supreme Court’s previous stance on exhaustion requirements, further limiting states' ability to delay federal claims through procedural mandates.

Legal experts say the decision sets a precedent that could affect other states attempting to place administrative hurdles before litigants pursuing federal rights violations.

Legal Teams & Case Details

Williams and the other claimants were represented by Jenner & Block LLP, Legal Services Alabama, and the University of Chicago Law School's Jenner & Block Supreme Court and Appellate Clinic.

Washington was represented by the Alabama Attorney General’s Office.

The case, Williams et al. v. Washington, case number 23-191, now returns to lower courts, where the plaintiffs will proceed with their federal civil rights claims—this time, without state-mandated delays standing in their way.