Case: Becker v. Hobbs

2:21-cv-00769 | U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona

Filed Date: May 3, 2021

Closed Date: June 28, 2021

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

A pro se plaintiff filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona on May 3, 2021, against Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs. The complaint was voluntarily dismissed before an answer was filed. Plaintiff alleged that Hobbs denied Becker’s Fifteenth Amendment right to run for Congress. Plaintiff is a convicted federal felon who was sentenced in Washington and released in Arizona. In 2019, Plaintiff contacted the judge who sentenced her and requested that her right t…

A pro se plaintiff filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona on May 3, 2021, against Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs. The complaint was voluntarily dismissed before an answer was filed. Plaintiff alleged that Hobbs denied Becker’s Fifteenth Amendment right to run for Congress. Plaintiff is a convicted federal felon who was sentenced in Washington and released in Arizona. In 2019, Plaintiff contacted the judge who sentenced her and requested that her right to vote be reinstated; the judge responded directing Plaintiff to contact her probation officer and previous defense attorney. Plaintiff also contacted the Washington State Attorney General, who did not provide her with further instruction. Plaintiff registered to vote in Washington in 2019. She subsequently attempted to run for Congress in Arizona four times between 2019 and 2021, and for Arizona state representative once in 2020.

Plaintiff alleged that her Fifteenth Amendment rights were violated because she was denied the right to run for Congressional District 7 on May 28, 2020, and June 30, 2020. She also alleged that her rights were violated because she did not meet the guidelines for restoration of her right to vote under Arizona Revised Statute 13-904, which she alleged in turn denied her right to run for Congressional District 3. She asserts that under the Fifteenth Amendment, her right to vote should have been reinstated the day she was released from prison. Plaintiff sought $87,000 in compensatory damages. 

Her civil case was terminated in June 28, 2021. 

Summary Authors

Aisha Keown-Lang (12/14/2023)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/59883567/parties/becker-v-hobbs/


Judge(s)

Humetewa, Diane Joyce (Arizona)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Becker, Nina Mae (Arizona)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

2:21-cv-00769

Complaint

May 3, 2021

May 3, 2021

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/59883567/becker-v-hobbs/

Last updated Aug. 9, 2025, 10:02 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT filed by Nina Mae Becker.(DXD) (Entered: 05/05/2021)

May 3, 2021

May 3, 2021

RECAP
2

APPLICATION for Leave to Proceed In Forma Pauperis by Nina Mae Becker. (DXD) (Entered: 05/05/2021)

May 3, 2021

May 3, 2021

PACER
3

This case has been assigned to the Honorable Judge Susan M Brnovich. All future pleadings or documents should bear the correct case number: 2:21-cv-769. Notice of Availability of Magistrate Judge to Exercise Jurisdiction form attached. (DXD) (Entered: 05/05/2021)

May 3, 2021

May 3, 2021

PACER
4

NOTICE TO SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANT re informational documents attached: (1) Notice to Self-Represented Litigant, (2) Federal Court Self-Service Clinic Flyer, (3) Fed. R. Civ. P. 5.2, and (4) Notice and Request re Electronic Noticing. (DXD) (Entered: 05/05/2021)

May 5, 2021

May 5, 2021

PACER
5

Order of Recusal

May 11, 2021

May 11, 2021

PACER
6

Service Executed

May 18, 2021

May 18, 2021

PACER
7

Order on Motion for Leave to Proceed In Forma Pauperis

May 19, 2021

May 19, 2021

PACER

~Util - Terminate Civil Case

June 28, 2021

June 28, 2021

PACER

Case Details

State / Territory: Arizona

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Special Collection(s):

Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project

Key Dates

Filing Date: May 3, 2021

Closing Date: June 28, 2021

Case Ongoing: No reason to think so

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Pro se plaintiff who was denied the ability to run for congress.

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Arizona Secretary of State, State

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Fifteenth Amendment

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Nature of Relief:

None

Source of Relief:

None

Issues

Voting:

Candidate qualifications