Case: Raysor v. Lee

4:19-cv-00301 | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida

Filed Date: June 28, 2019

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This case involves Florida state constitutional Amendment 4 (“Amendment”), which, in 2018, restored the right to vote for individuals with past felony convictions who had “completed all of the terms of their sentence.” The Amendment itself specifies that “completion of all terms of sentence” includes the completion of parole or probation. However, in 2019, shortly after the Amendment’s passage, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 7066 into law which further specified that “all terms of sent…

This case involves Florida state constitutional Amendment 4 (“Amendment”), which, in 2018, restored the right to vote for individuals with past felony convictions who had “completed all of the terms of their sentence.” The Amendment itself specifies that “completion of all terms of sentence” includes the completion of parole or probation. However, in 2019, shortly after the Amendment’s passage, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 7066 into law which further specified that “all terms of sentence” also included payment of all restitution, fines, and fees.

On June 28, 2019, Plaintiffs, seeking to represent “all persons otherwise eligible to vote in Florida who are denied the right to vote” for failure to meet SB 7066’s definition of “all terms of services, filed this class action lawsuit against Florida Secretary of State, Laurel M. Lee, in her official capacity, arguing SB 7066 violated the Fourteenth and Twenty-Fourth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution.

On October 29, 2019, Plaintiffs argued in their Second Amendment Complaint that SB 7066 unconstitutionally limits Amendment 4’s restoration of voting rights based upon an individual’s socio-economic status. Namely, an individual’s ability to pay back restitution, fines, and fees. Plaintiffs further contended SB 7066 was an unconstitutional “modern-day poll tax” which granted the right to vote only to those individuals with the ability to pay.

The case has since been reassigned and consolidated with a related case, Jones v. DeSantis, No. 4:19-cv-00300-MW-MJF.

Summary Authors

Jerry Berger (10/26/2023)

Benjamin Planchon (6/13/2024)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/15862935/parties/raysor-v-lee/


Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

ABUDU, NANCY GBANA (Florida)

ADEN, LEAH CAMILLE (Florida)

Attorney for Defendant

BENTLEY, MORGAN RAY (Florida)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

AWAN, NAILA S (Florida)

BAINS, CHIRAAG (Florida)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

4:19-cv-00301

Complaint

June 28, 2019

June 28, 2019

Complaint
5

4:19-cv-00301

1:19-cv-00121

Order of Transfer and Consolidation with Prior-Filed Case

Gruver v. Barton

June 30, 2019

June 30, 2019

Order/Opinion
12

4:19-cv-00301

Second Amended Complaint

Oct. 29, 2019

Oct. 29, 2019

Complaint
13

4:19-cv-00301

Florida Secretary of State's Answer and Affirmative Defenses

Nov. 12, 2019

Nov. 12, 2019

Pleading / Motion / Brief

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/15862935/raysor-v-lee/

Last updated Aug. 10, 2025, 9:30 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Plaintiffs ( Filing fee $ 400 receipt number AFLNDC-4536818.), filed by Bonnie Raysor, Diane Sherrill. (DUNN, CHAD) (Entered: 06/28/2019)

June 28, 2019

June 28, 2019

Clearinghouse
2

CIVIL COVER SHEET. (DUNN, CHAD) (Entered: 06/28/2019)

June 28, 2019

June 28, 2019

PACER
3

AMENDED DOCUMENT by Bonnie Raysor, Diane Sherrill. SUMMONS. (DUNN, CHAD) (Entered: 06/28/2019)

June 28, 2019

June 28, 2019

PACER
4

ORDER for reassignment. Signed by JUDGE ROBERT L HINKLE on 6/29/19. (RH) Modified on 6/30/2019 - case reassigned to Judge Walker. **Please use the new judge's initials for all future pleadings - 4:19cv301-MW/MJF. (kjw) (Entered: 06/29/2019)

June 29, 2019

June 29, 2019

RECAP

Add and Terminate Judges

June 30, 2019

June 30, 2019

PACER

CHIEF JUDGE MARK E WALKER added. JUDGE ROBERT L HINKLE no longer assigned to case. (kjw)

June 30, 2019

June 30, 2019

PACER
5

ORDER OF TRANSFER AND CONSOLIDATION WITH PRIOR-FILED CASE. The Clerk is directed to take all necessary steps to consolidate Case Nos. 4:19cv300, 1:19cv121, and 4:19cv301 for the purposes of case management. They will be maintained on a common docket under Consolidated Case No. 4:19cv300. The Clerk is directed to connect all lawyers from the consolidated cases to Case No. 4:19cv300. A paper that is applicable to any of the consolidated case must be filed in the common docket and must not be filed separately in any other case. Signed by CHIEF JUDGE MARK E WALKER on 6/30/2019. (kjw) (Entered: 06/30/2019)

June 30, 2019

June 30, 2019

Clearinghouse
6

Summons Issued as to LAUREL M LEE. (blb) (Entered: 07/01/2019)

July 1, 2019

July 1, 2019

PACER
7

NOTICE of Appearance by ASHLEY E DAVIS on behalf of LAUREL M LEE (DAVIS, ASHLEY) (Entered: 07/01/2019)

July 1, 2019

July 1, 2019

PACER
8

DOCKET ANNOTATION BY COURT: Counsel is reminded by this entry, cases 4:19cv300, 1:19cv121, and 4:19cv301 are consolidated for the purposes of case management. They will be maintained on a common docket under Consolidated Case No. 4:19cv300. A paper that is applicable to any of the consolidated cases must be filed in the common docket and must not be filed separately in any other case. See 5 Order. (blb) (Entered: 07/02/2019)

July 2, 2019

July 2, 2019

PACER
9

ORDER OF DISQUALIFICATION. Signed by CHIEF JUDGE MARK E WALKER on 7/17/2019. (kjw) **Order docketed in Lead Case and Consolidated Cases.** Case reassigned to JUDGE ROBERT L HINKLE for all further proceedings. CHIEF JUDGE MARK E WALKER no longer assigned to case. **Please use the new judge's initials for future filings - 4:19cv301-RH/MJF. (Entered: 07/17/2019)

July 17, 2019

July 17, 2019

PACER
10

ORDER SETTING TERMS OF CONSOLIDATION, RULE 26(f)DEADLINES, AND A SCHEDULING CONFERENCE. These cases are consolidated for case-management purposes only and will be maintained on a common docket under Consolidated Case No. 4:19cv300. Signed by JUDGE ROBERT L HINKLE on 7/23/19. (blb) **Order docketed in Lead Case and Consolidated Cases.** (Entered: 07/23/2019)

July 23, 2019

July 23, 2019

PACER
11

MOTION for Leave to File Second Amended Complaint by BONNIE RAYSOR, DIANE SHERRILL, LEE HOFFMAN. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit Gruver NVRA Letter, # 2 Exhibit Second Amended Complaint) (LANG, DANIELLE) (Entered: 10/29/2019)

Oct. 29, 2019

Oct. 29, 2019

PACER
12

SECOND AMENDED COMPLAINT against LAUREL M LEE, filed by BONNIE RAYSOR, DIANE SHERRILL, LEE HOFFMAN. (blb)*Extracted from Motion to File 11 per 216 Order in 4:19cv300 granting* (Entered: 11/06/2019)

Oct. 29, 2019

Oct. 29, 2019

Clearinghouse
13

ANSWER to 12 Amended Complaint by LAUREL M LEE. (JAZIL, MOHAMMAD) (Entered: 11/12/2019)

Nov. 12, 2019

Nov. 12, 2019

Clearinghouse
14

NOTICE of Appearance by EDWARD M WENGER on behalf of LAUREL M LEE (WENGER, EDWARD) (Entered: 01/13/2020)

Jan. 13, 2020

Jan. 13, 2020

PACER
15

MOTION for Joinder by LEE HOFFMAN, BONNIE RAYSOR, DIANE SHERRILL. (Attachments: # 1 Brief in Support of Motion to Join Consolidated Case Defendant Craig Latimer as Defendant) (GABER, MARK) Modified on 7/8/2020 to terminate motion (ckm). (Entered: 05/01/2020)

May 1, 2020

May 1, 2020

PACER
16

NOTICE (Raysor Plaitiffs' Notice of Service Regarding Joinder Motion) by LEE HOFFMAN, BONNIE RAYSOR, DIANE SHERRILL (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit 1: 4.3032020-5.1.2020 Email Correspondence Regarding Joinder Motion) (GABER, MARK) (Entered: 05/01/2020)

May 1, 2020

May 1, 2020

PACER
17

NOTICE (Raysor Plaintiffs' Notice of Agreement with Consolidated Case Defendant Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer Regarding Joinder Motion) by LEE HOFFMAN, BONNIE RAYSOR, DIANE SHERRILL re 15 MOTION for Joinder (GABER, MARK) (Entered: 05/02/2020)

May 2, 2020

May 2, 2020

PACER
18

ORDER AMENDING THE COMPLAINT IN CASE NO. 4:19cv301. Signed by JUDGE ROBERT L HINKLE on 5/7/20. (sms) (Entered: 05/07/2020)

May 7, 2020

May 7, 2020

PACER
19

NOTICE (Request for Summons to be Issued as to Defendant Latimer) by LEE HOFFMAN, BONNIE RAYSOR, DIANE SHERRILL re 18 Order (GABER, MARK) (Entered: 05/08/2020)

May 8, 2020

May 8, 2020

PACER
20

Summons Issued as to CRAIG LATIMER. (blb) (Entered: 05/11/2020)

May 11, 2020

May 11, 2020

PACER
21

NOTICE (Waiver of Service Returned Executed by Defendant Latimer. No Answer Deadline per Order, ECF No. 18) by LEE HOFFMAN, BONNIE RAYSOR, DIANE SHERRILL re 18 Order, 20 Summons Issued (GABER, MARK) (Entered: 05/11/2020)

May 11, 2020

May 11, 2020

PACER
22

NOTICE of Appearance by STEPHEN MARK TODD on behalf of CRAIG LATIMER (TODD, STEPHEN) (Entered: 05/13/2020)

May 13, 2020

May 13, 2020

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Florida

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Special Collection(s):

Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project

Key Dates

Filing Date: June 28, 2019

Case Ongoing: Unknown

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Individuals who will not have their voting rights restored pursuant to Florida State Constitutional Amendment 4 because of unpaid fines, fees, and restitution from their cases

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Laurel M. Lee, State

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Due Process: Procedural Due Process

Due Process: Substantive Due Process

Equal Protection

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

Declaratory Judgment

Source of Relief:

Unknown

Issues

Voting:

Voter qualifications

Voting: General & Misc.