Ex Parte Andrew Hugine, Jr. (in Re: Regina Colston v. Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University)

Summary

The court granted mandamus and directed the trial court to enter summary judgment for the university officials on Colston's individual-capacity claims. It held that the officials were entitled to qualified immunity on the First Amendment retaliation claims because they acted within discretionary employment authority and had an objectively lawful, budget-related basis for the termination. It also held that State-agent immunity barred Colston's state-law claims because the officials acted within protected governmental functions and the evidence did not establish an applicable immunity exception.