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color of law

Color of law refers to actions taken under the appearance of legal authority . The term is often used in civil rights law to describe conduct carried out by government officials , or by individuals acting in cooperation with them, who abuse power granted by their official position.

The phrase appears in the Civil Rights Act of 1871 , now codified in part at 42 U.S.C. § 1983 . Under that statute , a person may bring a civil action against anyone who, acting “under color of” state law, deprives the person of rights secured by the Constitution or federal law. Conduct occurs under color of law when it is fairly attributable to the state, even if the official’s actions exceed or misuse the authority granted by law. An example is the history of redlining , which can be seen in this map from Syracuse, New York . See also: Lugar v. Edmondson Oil Co, 457 U.S. 922 (1982) . 

The concept is related to the state action requirement in constitutional law . While private individuals generally are not subject to constitutional constraints, they may be considered to be acting under color of law when their conduct is sufficiently connected to governmental authority. 

[Last reviewed in February of 2026 by the Wex Definitions Team
] 

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