Hill v. Thompson was a United States Supreme Court case that dealt with the issue of whether a state could require a person to pay a fee in order to vote in a state election. The case was brought by a man named Hill, who had been denied the right to vote in a state election because he had not paid a fee. Hill argued that the fee requirement was unconstitutional, as it violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled in favor of Hill, finding that the fee requirement was unconstitutional. The Court held that the fee requirement violated the Equal Protection Clause because it imposed a financial burden on those who wished to exercise their right to vote. The Court also noted that the fee requirement was not necessary to ensure the integrity of the election, as other methods of voter identification were available. In its decision, the Court also noted that the fee requirement was a form of discrimination, as it disproportionately affected those who were less financially well-off. The Court held that the fee requirement was an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote, and that it could not be enforced.

Justice Field delivered the dissenting opinion in Hill v. Thompson, arguing that the majority's decision was contrary to established precedent and would lead to unjust results. He argued that a state cannot be held liable for damages caused by its officers or agents acting outside of their authority, even if they are negligent in doing so. Furthermore, he noted that it is well-established law that when an officer acts within his authority but negligently causes injury or damage as a result of his actions, then the state can be held liable for those damages. In this case, Justice Field argued that since there was no evidence presented showing any negligence on behalf of the defendant sheriff or other officers involved in executing the writs issued by court order and thus carrying out their duties under color of law; therefore they should not be held responsible for any resulting injuries suffered by plaintiff Hill due to their execution of said writs.