Olivier v. City of Brandon · ¶14

Before our decision in Heck, the City would have had no plausible basis for claiming Olivier's suit is barred. That type of suit, as no one here disputes, falls within § 1983's heartland: Assuming a credible threat of prosecution, a plaintiff may bring a § 1983 action to challenge a local law as violating the Constitution and to prevent that law's future enforcement. See, e. g., Steffel v. Thompson, 415 U. S. 452 (1974). And a half-century ago, in Wooley v. Maynard, 430 U. S. 705 (1977), this Court held that rule to apply even when the plaintiff (like Olivier) was previously convicted under the challenged law.

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