Pulliam v. Allen

Magistrate Pulliam (defendant) set bond at $250 for Allen (plaintiff), who was arrested for using vulgar language -- an offense carrying only a maximum fine, no jail time -- and jailed him for 14 days when he couldn't pay; Allen sued under Section 1983 for injunctive and declaratory relief challenging Pulliam's practice of jailing indigent defendants who couldn't post bond for fine-only offenses, and the district court ruled for Allen and enjoined the practice, prompting Pulliam's appeal on judicial-immunity grounds.