Case: Towers v. Soptic

2:21-cv-02564 | U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas

Filed Date: Dec. 1, 2021

Closed Date: May 6, 2022

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Case Summary

A candidate for the office of Wyandotte County Sheriff in 2021 initially filed a complaint pro se in the state trial court of Kansas against the declared winner and other individuals and government entities, alleging election improprieties related to the way votes were counted and confirmed (Case no. 2021MV354). The plaintiff alleged violations of the 15th and 26th Amendments, as well as state law.

After filing, the plaintiff attempted to remove the case to federal court in the District of Kansas. The Court disagreed and remanded the case back to state court on December 2, 2021.The plaintiff filed a motion for reconsideration, but this was denied the same day. 

The following day, on December 3, the plaintiff filed an appeal to the Tenth Circuit (docket no. 21-3221). On May 5, 2022, the Circuit Court for the Tenth Circuit dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction. 

This case appears closed. 

Summary Authors

Christy MacGregor (12/22/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/61587078/parties/towers-v-soptic/


Judge(s)

Teeter, Holly Lou (Kansas)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Towers, Celisha (Kansas)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

2:21-cv-02564

Notice of Removal of Action Under U.S.C. § 1441(a) Federal Question

Dec. 1, 2021

Dec. 1, 2021

Pleading / Motion / Brief
3

Order remanding the case to the District Court of Wyandotte County, KS

Dec. 2, 2021

Dec. 2, 2021

11

Order

None

12

Notice of Appeal

Tower v. Soptic

None

21

Order and Judgment

None

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/61587078/towers-v-soptic/

Last updated Jan. 12, 2026, 9:36 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

NOTICE OF REMOVAL from District Court of Wyandotte County, case number 2021MV354 Trial location of Kansas City, filed by Celisha Towers. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit A - State Court Records) (lb) (Entered: 12/01/2021)

Dec. 1, 2021

Dec. 1, 2021

Clearinghouse
2

CIVIL COVER SHEET re 1 Notice of Removal by Plaintiff Celisha Towers. (lb) (Entered: 12/01/2021)

Dec. 1, 2021

Dec. 1, 2021

NOTICE OF JUDGE ASSIGNMENT: Case assigned to District Judge Holly L. Teeter and Magistrate Judge Teresa J. James for all proceedings. (This is a TEXT ENTRY ONLY. There is no.pdf document associated with this entry.) (lb)

Dec. 1, 2021

Dec. 1, 2021

FILING FEE PAID: in the amount of $ 402, receipt number K4631060302. (lb)

Dec. 1, 2021

Dec. 1, 2021

Notice of Judge Assignment

Dec. 1, 2021

Dec. 1, 2021

Filing Fee Paid

Dec. 1, 2021

Dec. 1, 2021

3

ORDER - The Court orders that this case is remanded to the District Court of Wyandotte County, Kansas. Signed by District Judge Holly L. Teeter on 12/2/2021. Mailed to pro se party Celisha Towers by regular mail. (kas) (Entered: 12/02/2021)

Dec. 2, 2021

Dec. 2, 2021

***Civil Case Terminated per 3 Order remanding case to the District Court of Wyandotte County, Kansas.(kas)

Dec. 2, 2021

Dec. 2, 2021

4

Letter from U.S. District Court of Kansas to Wyandotte County District Court in Kansas City, KS regarding the remand of case number 21-2564. Mailed via Certified Mail (Certified tracking # 7018 0680 0001 8173 8745). (kas) (Entered: 12/02/2021)

Dec. 2, 2021

Dec. 2, 2021

5

SUPPLEMENT to 1 Notice of Removal by Plaintiff Celisha Towers. (kas) (Entered: 12/02/2021)

Dec. 2, 2021

Dec. 2, 2021

6

MOTION for Order (titled "Contestant Celisha Towers Motion to Dismiss Wyandotte County Election Commissioner Michael Abbott Motion to Intervene and Motion to Stay the Federal and State Proceedings in the United States District Court for the District Court of Kansas for a fair and honest trial") by Plaintiff Celisha Towers (referred to Magistrate Judge Teresa J. James) (kas) (Entered: 12/02/2021)

Dec. 2, 2021

Dec. 2, 2021

7

AMENDED NOTICE OF REMOVAL from District Court of Wyandotte County, Kansas. Case number 2021MV354. Trial location of Kansas City, filed by Celisha Towers.(kas) (Entered: 12/02/2021)

Dec. 2, 2021

Dec. 2, 2021

8

Amended MOTION for Order (titled "Amended Contestant Celisha Towers Motion to Dismiss Wyandotte County Election Commissioner Michael Abbott Motion to Intervene and Motion to Stay the Federal and State Proceedings in the United States District Court for the District Court of Kansas for a fair and honest trial") by Plaintiff Celisha Towers. (referred to Magistrate Judge Teresa J. James) (kas) (Entered: 12/02/2021)

Dec. 2, 2021

Dec. 2, 2021

9

MOTION for Reconsideration re 3 Order (titled "Motion to Dismiss Order Remanding back to the District Court of Wyandotte County Kansas and Stay Proceedings in the United States District Court for the District Court of Kansas") by Plaintiff Celisha Towers. (referred to Magistrate Judge Teresa J. James) (kas) (Entered: 12/02/2021)

Dec. 2, 2021

Dec. 2, 2021

10

DOCKET ANNOTATION: Plaintiff Celisha Towers is a registered pro se participant with ECF Notifications Only. (gw) (Entered: 12/02/2021)

Dec. 2, 2021

Dec. 2, 2021

11

ORDER denying 9 Motion for Reconsideration, filed by Celisha Towers. The Court's earlier order remanding this case to state court (Doc. 3) stands. The Court directs the Clerk of Court to ensure that Plaintiff's recent filings are provided to the District Court of Wyandotte County, Kansas. Signed by District Judge Holly L. Teeter on 12/2/2021. (kas) (Entered: 12/02/2021)

Dec. 2, 2021

Dec. 2, 2021

NOTICE Re: Mailing. Documents 6 MOTION for Order and 8 Amended MOTION for Order filed by Celisha Towers mailed to Wyandotte County District Court on 12/2/2021 by certified mail; Certified Tracking Number 7018 0680 0001 8173 8752 per 11 Order. (kas)

Dec. 2, 2021

Dec. 2, 2021

Terminate Civil Case

Dec. 2, 2021

Dec. 2, 2021

Notice Re Pro Se Mailing

Dec. 2, 2021

Dec. 2, 2021

12

NOTICE OF APPEAL as to 3 Order by Plaintiff Celisha Towers. (heo) (Entered: 12/03/2021)

Dec. 3, 2021

Dec. 3, 2021

13

MOTION for Leave to Appeal in forma pauperis by Plaintiff Celisha Towers. NOTE Access to document is restricted pursuant to the Courts privacy policy. (referred to Magistrate Judge Teresa J. James) (Attachments: # 1 Affidavit)(heo) (Entered: 12/03/2021)

Dec. 3, 2021

Dec. 3, 2021

14

PRELIMINARY RECORD ON APPEAL transmitted to 10CCA re 12 Notice of Appeal. (Attachments: # 1 Preliminary Packet)(heo) (Entered: 12/03/2021)

Dec. 3, 2021

Dec. 3, 2021

15

APPEAL DOCKETED in 10CCA on 12/3/2021 and assigned Appeal No. 21-3221 re 12 Notice of Appeal - Final Judgment filed by Celisha Towers. (kas) (Entered: 12/06/2021)

Dec. 6, 2021

Dec. 6, 2021

16

CERTIFIED MAIL RECEIPT returned re 4 Letter from U.S. District Court of Kansas addressed to Wyandotte County District Court. (kas) (Entered: 12/10/2021)

Dec. 10, 2021

Dec. 10, 2021

17

CERTIFIED MAIL RECEIPT returned re Notice of Mailing, addressed to Wyandotte County District Court. (kas) (Entered: 12/10/2021)

Dec. 10, 2021

Dec. 10, 2021

18

ORDER of 10CCA lifting the tolling of the action as to 12 Notice of Appeal filed by Celisha Towers. (Appeal No. 21-3221) (heo) (Entered: 01/03/2022)

Jan. 3, 2022

Jan. 3, 2022

19

RECORD ON APPEAL retrieved by 10CCA re 12 Notice of Appeal - Final Judgment. (Appeal No. 21-3221) (This is a TEXT ENTRY ONLY. There is no.pdf document associated with this entry.) (kas) (Entered: 01/04/2022)

Jan. 4, 2022

Jan. 4, 2022

Record on Appeal Retrieved by 10CCA

Jan. 4, 2022

Jan. 4, 2022

20

ORDER finding moot 13 Motion for Leave to Appeal In Forma Pauperis. The Tenth Circuit has ordered Plaintiff to file a motion to proceed in forma pauperis with the appellate court on or before February 2, 2022 (ECF No. 18 ). In light of this direction, and to avoid any confusion and the uncertainty of having two motions seeking the same relief pending in separate courts, this Court finds the current motion moot without considering its merits. Signed by Magistrate Judge Teresa J. James on 1/6/22. (This is a TEXT ENTRY ONLY. There is no.pdf document associated with this entry.) (ct) (Entered: 01/06/2022)

Jan. 6, 2022

Jan. 6, 2022

Order on Motion for Leave to Appeal In Forma Pauperis

Jan. 6, 2022

Jan. 6, 2022

21

APPEAL MANDATE from 10CCA dismissing appeal for lack of jurisdiction. Because Towers fails to present a nonfrivolous appellate argument, we deny her motion to proceed in forma pauperis. (Appeal No. 21-3221) (Attachments: # 1 Mandate) (mam) (Entered: 05/06/2022)

May 6, 2022

May 6, 2022

Case Details

State / Territory:

Kansas

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Special Collection(s):

Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 1, 2021

Closing Date: May 6, 2022

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

candidate who ran for the office of Wyandotte County Sheriff in 2021.

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Daniel Soptic, Gayle Townsend, Mary Gonzalez, Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, and Michael Abbott, Wyandotte County Election Commissioner (Kansas City, Wyandotte), County

Facility Type(s):

Government-run

Case Details

Causes of Action:

State law

Constitutional Clause(s):

Fifteenth Amendment

Other Dockets:

District of Kansas 2:21-cv-02564

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit 21-03221

Kansas state trial court 2021MV354

Available Documents:

Any published opinion

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Defendant

Relief Sought:

Attorneys fees

Damages

Declaratory judgment

Injunction

Relief Granted:

None

Source of Relief:

None

Issues

Voting:

Candidate qualifications

Challenges to at-large/multimember district/election

Election administration

Voting: General & Misc.