Under color of authority

Under color of authority

Under color of authority is a legal phrase used in the United States[1] indicating a person is claiming or implying the acts he or she is committing are related to and legitimized by his or her role as an agent of governmental power.

The phrase can refer to lawful or unlawful acts. The statutes that define what powers police officers can exercise in the course of their duty will often state the officer must be acting "under the color of authority." On the other hand, charges of police brutality will often include the formal charge of assault "under color of authority," as they did in the Rodney King case.

References

  1. ^ Judicial and Statutory Definitions of Words and Phrases. West Publishing Company, West Publishing Co., St. Paul. p. 763. http://books.google.com/books?id=NGU8AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA763&dq=%22Under+color+of+authority%22+-wikipedia. 



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  • color — col·or n: a legal claim to or appearance of a right or authority threats that gave color to an act of self defense usu. used in the phrase under color of a police officer held liable for violating the plaintiff s civil rights under color of state …   Law dictionary

  • color of law — n. The appearance of legal authority without the substance; something that appears to have the authority of law but in fact does not. The Essential Law Dictionary. Sphinx Publishing, An imprint of Sourcebooks, Inc. Amy Hackney Blackwell. 2008.… …   Law dictionary

  • Color (law) — In U.S. law, the term color of denotes the “mere semblance of legal right”, the “pretense or appearance of” right; hence, an action done under color of law colors (adjusts) the law to the circumstance, yet said apparently legal action contravenes …   Wikipedia

  • color of law — The appearance or semblance, without the substance, of legal right. Misuse of power, possessed by virtue of state law and made possible only because wrongdoer is clothed with authority of state, is action taken under color of state law. Atkins v …   Black's law dictionary

  • color of law — The appearance or semblance, without the substance, of legal right. Misuse of power, possessed by virtue of state law and made possible only because wrongdoer is clothed with authority of state, is action taken under color of state law. Atkins v …   Black's law dictionary

  • color of office — Pretense of official right to do act made by one who has no such right. Kiker v. Pinson, 120 Ga.App. 784, 172 S.E.2d 333, 334. An act under color of office is an act of an officer who claims authority to do the act by reason of his office when… …   Black's law dictionary

  • color of office — Pretense of official right to do act made by one who has no such right. Kiker v. Pinson, 120 Ga.App. 784, 172 S.E.2d 333, 334. An act under color of office is an act of an officer who claims authority to do the act by reason of his office when… …   Black's law dictionary

  • color of law — noun a mere semblance of legal right; something done with the apparent authority of law but actually in contravention of law the plaintiff claimed that under color of law the officer had deprived him of his civil rights • Syn: ↑colour of law •… …   Useful english dictionary

  • color of office — color of of·fice: the pretense or appearance of official authority in one who is without the authority claimed Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. color of office …   Law dictionary

  • Under the Dome —   …   Wikipedia

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