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What is the significance of the RAYGOR v. REGENTS OF UNIV. OF MINN. court case?

The case was a 5-4 Supreme Court decision, with Justice Sandra Day O'Connor writing the majority opinion.

The key issue was whether the federal supplemental jurisdiction statute tolled the period of limitations for state law claims dismissed on Eleventh Amendment grounds against a non-consenting state defendant.

The case stemmed from age discrimination charges filed by Lance Raygor and James Goodchild against the University of Minnesota with the EEOC in 1995.

Raygor and Goodchild initially filed federal and state law claims against the University in district court, but the state law claims were dismissed on Eleventh Amendment grounds.

They then refiled the state law claims in state court, but the University argued they were time-barred.

The Supreme Court held that the supplemental jurisdiction statute did not toll the limitations period for the state law claims against the non-consenting state defendant.

This decision effectively barred Raygor and Goodchild from having their state law claims heard in court, since the limitations period had expired.

The Court reasoned that allowing tolling would undermine the Eleventh Amendment's protection of states from unconsented suits in federal court.

The decision was seen as a win for state sovereignty, but a loss for plaintiffs seeking to bring supplemental state claims against non-consenting states.

Justice O'Connor's majority opinion emphasized the importance of respecting the Eleventh Amendment's jurisdictional limits.

The 5-4 split reflected the ongoing debate over the proper balance between state sovereignty and individual rights.

The case highlighted the complex interplay between federal supplemental jurisdiction and state sovereign immunity under the Eleventh Amendment.

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