West v. Atkins

In West v. Atkins, 487 U.S. 42, 49 (1988), the U.S. Supreme Court defined what constitutes the requirement of "color of state law" in a cause of action based on 42 U.S.C. § 1983 ("Section 1983"):

"It is firmly established that a defendant in a § 1983 suit acts under color of state law when he abuses the position given to him by the State."