What was established by Chisholm vs. Georgia regarding state lawsuits?

The case Chisholm v. Georgia (1793) established that citizens of one state have the right to sue another state in federal court. This decision was significant because it upheld the principle that federal courts could exercise jurisdiction over cases where a state was being sued by a citizen of another state.

The ruling was rooted in Article III of the U.S. Constitution, which grants federal courts the authority to hear cases involving state conflicts. Prior to this case, there was a prevailing thought that states held sovereign immunity, meaning they could not be sued unless they consented to such an action. However, the Supreme Court held that federal jurisdiction takes precedence in instances where one state is taken to court by a citizen of a different state.

The outcome of Chisholm v. Georgia subsequently led to the ratification of the Eleventh Amendment, which now sets restrictions on the ability of individuals to sue states in federal court, reinforcing the sovereignty of the states. This case illustrates the intricate balance between state sovereignty and the federal judicial system.