Can citizens sue their own state?
William Harris
Updated on May 11, 2026
A state may not be sued in federal court by its own citizen or a citizen of another state, unless the state consents to jurisdiction.
Can a state be sued in its own state court?
Under the doctrine of “state sovereign immunity,” a state cannot be sued in federal and state court without its consent.Can a citizen of a state sue that state?
Citizens Suing Other StatesGeorgia, 2 U.S. 419, 1793, the Supreme Court found that a citizen of state A has the ability to sue state B.