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Barbara Hafer v. James C. Melo, Jr.

502 U.S. 21 · Decided November 5, 1991 · Supreme Court of the United States

Record summary. This page is generated from the Supreme Court Database’s coded data about the case. It describes who decided what, not the Court’s reasoning. Read the opinion itself before relying on it. Not legal advice.

At a glance

Barbara Hafer v. James C. Melo, Jr. was decided on November 5, 1991 unanimously (8–0). The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Liability under civil rights acts” in the Civil Rights area.

Read the opinion

Case details

Citations
502 U.S. 21 · 112 S. Ct. 358 · 116 L. Ed. 2d 301 · 1991 U.S. LEXIS 6502
Docket number
90-681
Decided
November 5, 1991
Argued
October 15, 1991
Decision type
Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
Disposition
Affirmed
Outcome for petitioner
The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
Vote
8–0 (unanimous)
Majority opinion
Sandra Day O'Connor
Opinion assigned by
William H. Rehnquist
How the case arrived
Certiorari
Issue area
Civil Rights
Legal provision
42 U.S.C. § 1983 (Reconstruction Civil Rights Acts)
Type of law
Federal statute
Decision direction (SCDB)
Liberal what this means

How the Justices voted

Did not participate: Clarence Thomas.

Full case caption

Barbara Hafer v. James C. Melo, Jr., et al.

SCDB identifiers: case 1991-004, docket 1991-004-01.

Other cases on “Liability under civil rights acts”

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Cases on the same legal provision: 42 U.S.C. § 1983 (Reconstruction Civil Rights Acts)

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Source: Supreme Court Database, 2026 Release 01 (data file dated September 8, 2026). Imported into CaseTrail November 5, 2026. Coverage: decisions from the 1946 through 2025 Terms. Methodology · Report an error