Galette v. New Jersey Transit Corp. · ¶32

For example, in Moor v. County of Alameda, 411 U. S. 693 (1973), the Court addressed whether a county was an arm of the State, and therefore not a “citizen,” for purposes of diversity jurisdiction. Id., at 717–718 (explaining that a State is not a “citizen” for diversity purposes). The county at issue argued that its designation, by the California Constitution, as a “ `legal subdivisio[n] of the State' ” established its status as an arm of the State. Id., at 718–719. The Court, however, disagreed. It explained that the county was also created as a “ `body corporate and politic,' ” which meant, “[m]ost notably,” that the county was given “ `corporate powers,' ” such as the ability to “sue and be sued,” to “deal in property,” and to make “contract[s].” Id., at 719. Financially, moreover, the county alone would be “liable for all judgments against it” and could issue bonds without creating…

preliminary print (page proof)
Source edition
Passage preview. Read in context for the complete text, notes and references.