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Heck v. Humphrey

No. 93-6188 SCOTUS · Teaching/Historical SCOTUS

Case Overview

The Supreme Court held that a prisoner cannot bring a Section 1983 civil rights claim that would necessarily imply the invalidity of a conviction or sentence unless and until that conviction or sentence has already been reversed, expunged, or declared invalid by habeas corpus or other means.

42 U.S.C. § 1983 habeas corpus

Legal Issues

42 U.S.C. § 1983habeas corpus

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The Conclusion

**The Supreme Court held that a Section 1983 claim for damages that would necessarily imply the invalidity of a conviction is not cognizable unless the conviction has been invalidated first.** This is the 'Heck bar' to § 1983 suits.

CourtSupreme Court of the United States
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SCOTUS TMR-e8a04ba8 Jul 19, 2026
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