Case: Reeves v. Kemp

1:20-cv-00172 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia

Filed Date: Nov. 25, 2020

Closed Date: Jan. 12, 2021

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Case Summary

This is a case about Georgia's mail-in ballot regulations during the 2020 election. On November 25, 2020, a family of three Georgia residents filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. The residents sued Georgia Governor Brian Kemp under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Filing pro se, the plaintiffs sought the invalidation of "all mail in ballots in the State of Georgia." Alternatively, the plaintiffs sought $30 million in damages so that family could relocate to…

This is a case about Georgia's mail-in ballot regulations during the 2020 election.

On November 25, 2020, a family of three Georgia residents filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Georgia. The residents sued Georgia Governor Brian Kemp under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Filing pro se, the plaintiffs sought the invalidation of "all mail in ballots in the State of Georgia." Alternatively, the plaintiffs sought $30 million in damages so that family could relocate to a different region of the United States, or to another country, "in order to live safely." 

The plaintiffs claimed that when they voted in person in Richmond County, their driver's licenses and other identification were checked multiple times and cross-referenced with printouts and databases. The plaintiffs alleged that in Georgia, individuals who submitted mail-in ballots did not receive the same level of scrutiny as those who voted in-person with a valid driver's license, and that this was a violation of equal protection laws. The plaintiffs claimed that if they had "mailed in an application and voted Republican, [their] vote would have been discarded," but if they had voted for Democratic candidates, their votes would have been "faithfully and carefully recorded." The plaintiffs claimed that their case was "part of a larger effort in Georgia to steal the election from Republican voters." 

On November 25, 2020, the court notified the plaintiffs of a filing fee deficiency. Mail sent to the plaintiffs was repeatedly returned as undeliverable. 

On December 22, 2020, Judge Epps issued a report recommending that the case be dismissed without prejudice and closed, with objections due by January 8, 2021. 

The case was closed on January 12, 2021, when Chief Judge Hall issued an order that adopted Judge Epps's recommendation and dismissed the case without prejudice. 

Summary Authors

Kalina Zhong (10/27/2023)

Tamar Sarjveladze (7/10/2024)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/18694122/parties/reeves-v-kemp/


Judge(s)

Hall, James Randal (Georgia)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Reeves, Daniel (Georgia)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

1:20-cv-00172

Original complaint

Reeves, Et Al V. Kemp

Nov. 25, 2020

Nov. 25, 2020

Complaint

2021 WL 123392

7

1:20-cv-00172

Order

Dec. 22, 2020

Dec. 22, 2020

Order/Opinion
6

1:20-cv-00172

Magistrate Judge's Report and Recommendation

Dec. 22, 2020

Dec. 22, 2020

Magistrate Report/Recommendation

2020 WL 8093517

8

1:20-cv-00172

Order

Reeves, Et Al V. Kemp

Jan. 12, 2021

Jan. 12, 2021

Order/Opinion

2021 WL 123392

9

1:20-cv-00172

Clerk's Judgment

Jan. 12, 2021

Jan. 12, 2021

Order/Opinion

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/18694122/reeves-v-kemp/

Last updated July 10, 2024, 11:42 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants, filed by Daniel Reeves. (Attachments: # 1 Letters)(pts) (Entered: 11/25/2020)

1 Letters

View on PACER

Nov. 25, 2020

Nov. 25, 2020

Clearinghouse
2

NOTICE of Filing Fee Deficiency. Set/Reset Deadlines: Compliance due by 12/16/2020. (Attachments: # 1 AO 239)(pts) (Entered: 11/25/2020)

Nov. 25, 2020

Nov. 25, 2020

PACER
3

RULE 26(f) ORDER. Signed by Magistrate Judge Brian K. Epps on 11/25/2020. (Attachments: # 1 Forms) (pts) (Entered: 11/25/2020)

1 Forms

View on PACER

Nov. 25, 2020

Nov. 25, 2020

PACER
4

Mail Returned as Undeliverable. Mail sent to Daniel Reeves. (pts) (Entered: 12/11/2020)

Dec. 11, 2020

Dec. 11, 2020

PACER
5

Mail Returned as Undeliverable. Mail sent to Daniel Reeves. (pts) (Entered: 12/18/2020)

Dec. 18, 2020

Dec. 18, 2020

PACER
6

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS re 1 Complaint, that this case be dismissed without prejudice and closed. Objections to R&R due by 1/8/2021. Signed by Magistrate Judge Brian K. Epps on 12/22/2020. (thb) (Entered: 12/22/2020)

Dec. 22, 2020

Dec. 22, 2020

Clearinghouse
7

ORDER directing service of 6 REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS. Signed by Magistrate Judge Brian K. Epps on 12/22/2020. (thb) (Entered: 12/22/2020)

Dec. 22, 2020

Dec. 22, 2020

Clearinghouse
8

ORDER ADOPTING 6 Report and Recommendations. This case is dismissed without prejudice and stands closed. Signed by Chief Judge J. Randal Hall on 1/12/2021. (pts) (Entered: 01/12/2021)

Jan. 12, 2021

Jan. 12, 2021

Clearinghouse
9

CLERK'S JUDGMENT. Signed by Deputy Clerk on 1/12/2021. (pts) (Entered: 01/12/2021)

Jan. 12, 2021

Jan. 12, 2021

Clearinghouse
10

Mail Returned as Undeliverable. Mail sent to Daniel Reeves. (pts) (Entered: 01/12/2021)

Jan. 12, 2021

Jan. 12, 2021

PACER
11

Mail Returned as Undeliverable. Mail sent to Daniel Reeves. (pts) (Entered: 01/25/2021)

Jan. 25, 2021

Jan. 25, 2021

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Georgia

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Special Collection(s):

Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project

Key Dates

Filing Date: Nov. 25, 2020

Closing Date: Jan. 12, 2021

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

A family of three US citizens residing in Georgia

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Governor of Georgia, State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Non-settlement Outcome

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

None

Issues

Affected Race(s):

White

Affected Sex/Gender(s):

Female

Male

Voting:

Election administration

Voter ID

Voter registration rules

Voting: General & Misc.

Voting: Physical/Effective Access