Legal Definitions - color of law

Definition: Color of law refers to the appearance of legal authority or an apparently legal right that may not actually exist. This term is often used to describe the abuse of power under the guise of state authority, which is illegal.

The term "color of law" was used in the Civil Rights Act of 1871, where it referred to an official whose conduct was so closely associated with a state that the conduct was deemed to be the action of that state. This Act grants citizens the right to sue government officials and their agents for using their power to violate civil rights.

One example of color of law is the practice of redlining, which was a discriminatory practice used by banks and other financial institutions to deny loans or insurance to people based on their race or ethnicity. This practice was illegal, but it was often disguised as a legitimate business practice.

For example, in Syracuse, New York, a map was created in the 1930s that showed which neighborhoods were considered "hazardous" for lending purposes. These neighborhoods were predominantly African American and immigrant communities, and they were denied access to loans and other financial services. This was a clear example of color of law, as it was a discriminatory practice that was disguised as a legitimate business practice.