Ex Parte J. Christopher Murphy, as Director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety (In Re: Christopher Battle…

Summary

The court granted mandamus relief and directed the circuit court to dismiss the claims seeking money damages against the former director in his official capacity. Because those claims would require recovery from or affect the State treasury, they were barred by constitutional sovereign immunity, notwithstanding allegations that the director had misinterpreted or willfully misapplied the law. The court treated the immunity issue as jurisdictional and therefore reviewable by mandamus.