Case: Towers v. Wyandotte County, Kansa

5:21-cv-04089 | U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas

Filed Date: Dec. 10, 2021

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

A case summary is not yet available via the Clearinghouse.

Summary Authors

Carlo DeHart (8/6/2025)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/61611993/parties/towers-v-wyandotte-county-kansas-unified-government-of/


Judge(s)

Melgren, Eric F. (Kansas)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Towers, Celisha (Kansas)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

5:21-cv-04089

Civil Complaint

Towers v. Unified Government of Wyandotte

Dec. 10, 2021

Dec. 10, 2021

Complaint
11

5:21-cv-04089

Amended Complaint

Towers v. Unified Government of Wyandotte

Jan. 20, 2022

Jan. 20, 2022

Complaint
12

5:21-cv-04089

Report and Recommendation

Towers v. Unified Government of Wyandotte

March 9, 2022

March 9, 2022

Magistrate Report/Recommendation
14

5:21-cv-04089

Objection to Report and Recommendations

Towers v. Unified Government of Wyandotte

March 22, 2022

March 22, 2022

Other
15

5:21-cv-04089

Order

Towers v. Unified Government of Wyandotte

April 7, 2022

April 7, 2022

Order/Opinion
16

5:21-cv-04089

Judgment In a Civil Case

Towers v. Unified Government of Wyandotte

April 7, 2022

April 7, 2022

Order/Opinion
17

5:21-cv-04089

Amended Complaint

Towers v. Unified Government of Wyandotte

April 21, 2022

April 21, 2022

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/61611993/towers-v-wyandotte-county-kansas-unified-government-of/

Last updated Nov. 6, 2025, 6:43 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT (No Summons Issued) with trial location of Topeka, filed by Celisha Towers. (jal) (Entered: 12/13/2021)

Dec. 10, 2021

Dec. 10, 2021

Clearinghouse
2

CIVIL COVER SHEET re 1 Complaint by Plaintiff Celisha Towers. (jal) (Entered: 12/13/2021)

Dec. 10, 2021

Dec. 10, 2021

3

MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis by Plaintiff Celisha Towers. (referred to Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell) (Attachments: # 1 Financial Affidavit) NOTE - Access to document is restricted pursuant to the courts privacy policy. (jal) (Entered: 12/13/2021)

Dec. 10, 2021

Dec. 10, 2021

4

ORDER OF RECUSAL. District Judge John W. Lungstrum recused. Case reassigned to Chief District Judge Eric F. Melgren for all further proceedings Signed by District Judge John W. Lungstrum on 12/13/2021. (This is a TEXT ENTRY ONLY. There is no.pdf document associated with this entry.)(ses) (Entered: 12/13/2021)

Dec. 13, 2021

Dec. 13, 2021

Recusal

Dec. 13, 2021

Dec. 13, 2021

5

ORDER denying without prejudice 3 Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis. Renewed motion supported by a completed Affidavit of Financial Status or pay the filing fee by 1/7/22. Signed by Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell on 12/17/21. Mailed to pro se party Celisha Towers by regular mail (msb) (Entered: 12/17/2021)

Dec. 17, 2021

Dec. 17, 2021

6

DOCKET ANNOTATION: Plaintiff Celisha Towers is a registered pro se participant with ECF notifications only. (gw) (Entered: 12/27/2021)

Dec. 27, 2021

Dec. 27, 2021

7

MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis NOTE - Access to document is restricted pursuant to the courts privacy policy. by Plaintiff Celisha Towers (referred to Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell) (Attachment: # 1 Financial Affidavit)(msb) (Entered: 12/30/2021)

Dec. 30, 2021

Dec. 30, 2021

8

ORDER: Plaintiff Celisha Towers' renewed 7 Motion to Proceed Without Prepayment of Fees is granted. However, the court will not direct service of process on the defendants until the court screens the complaint for merit under 28 U.S.C. § 1915(e)(2)(B). The U.S. Marshals Service shall withhold service on defendants until further order of the court. Signed by Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell on 1/3/2022. Mailed to pro se party Celisha Towers by regular mail. (jsh) (Entered: 01/03/2022)

Jan. 3, 2022

Jan. 3, 2022

10

ORDER: Plaintiff Celisha Tower's pro se 9 Motion for Leave to File First Amended Complaint is DENIED for reasons set forth in Order. Plaintiff may file a First Amended Complaint by 1/20/2022. See Order for details. Signed by Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell on 1/10/2022. Copy of Order and civil complaint form mailed to pro se party Celisha Towers by regular mail. (jsh) (Entered: 01/10/2022)

Jan. 10, 2022

Jan. 10, 2022

9

MOTION to Amend Complaint re 1 Complaint (titled "Plaintiff's Motion for Leave to File First Amended Complaint") by Plaintiff Celisha Towers. (referred to Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell) (jsh) (Entered: 01/10/2022)

Jan. 10, 2022

Jan. 10, 2022

11

AMENDED COMPLAINT against All Defendants, filed by Celisha Towers. (jsh) (Additional attachment(s) added on 1/21/2022: # 1 Correct Document) (jsh). (Entered: 01/21/2022)

Jan. 20, 2022

Jan. 20, 2022

DOCKET ANNOTATION: 11 Amended Complaint filed by Celisha Towers: Original document filed was not scanned in its entirety; corrected document which includes all pages of pleading added and original document blocked from public view. (jsh)

Jan. 21, 2022

Jan. 21, 2022

12

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS re 11 Amended Complaint filed by Celisha Towers. Plaintiff may file written objections within fourteen days after service. Signed by Magistrate Judge Angel D. Mitchell on 3/9/2022. Mailed to pro se party Celisha Towers by certified mail and regular mail. (ht) (Entered: 03/09/2022)

March 9, 2022

March 9, 2022

NOTICE Re: Pro Se Mailing. Document 12 REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS re 11 Amended Complaint filed by Celisha Towers mailed to Celisha Towers on 3/9/2022 by regular and certified mail; Certified Tracking Number 7010 2780 0003 1928 0628. (mls)

March 9, 2022

March 9, 2022

13

CERTIFIED MAIL RECEIPT returned re 12 REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS addressed to Celisha Towers. (ca) (Entered: 03/21/2022)

March 21, 2022

March 21, 2022

14

OBJECTION to 12 Report and Recommendations by Plaintiff Celisha Towers. (mam) (Entered: 03/22/2022)

March 22, 2022

March 22, 2022

15

ORDER adopting 12 Report and Recommendation. Signed by Chief District Judge Eric F. Melgren on 4/7/2022. (mam) (Entered: 04/07/2022)

April 7, 2022

April 7, 2022

16

JUDGMENT. Pursuant to the Order filed on April 7, 2022, Doc. 15, the Report and Recommendation, Doc. 12, is ADOPTED in its entirety and this case is dismissed without prejudice. Signed by deputy clerk on 4/7/2022. (mam) (Entered: 04/07/2022)

April 7, 2022

April 7, 2022

17

AMENDED COMPLAINT against Michael Abbott, Marni Arevalo, Don Ash, Doug Bach, Suezanna Bishop, Tom Burroughs, Melissa Bynum, Jeffrey Conway, Henry Couchman, Kayla Esparza, Mary Gonzales, Stephanie Grady, Elizabeth Hernandez, Mike Kane, Angela Markley, Brian McKiernan, Jane Philbrook, Christian Ramirez, Kim Rivera, Scott Schwab, Frances Shepard, Daniel Soptic, Gayle Townsend, Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas, Jim Walters, filed by Celisha Towers.(ca) (Attachment added: # 1 Signed Amended Complaint received 4/29/22) (mls). (Entered: 04/21/2022)

April 21, 2022

April 21, 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. 10, 2021

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

An unsuccessful candidate for Wyandotte County Sheriff in the 2021 election cycle.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Private Plaintiff

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Wyandotte County Election Commissioner (Wyandotte), County

Board of Canvasser (Wyandotte), County

Assistant County Administrator (Wyandotte), County

Voter Register (Wyandotte), County

Advance Voting (Wyandotte), County

Election Worker Program Coordinator (Wyandotte), County

Election Technology Program Coordinator (Wyandotte), County

Election Equipment Program Coordinator (Wyandotte), County

Sheriff of Wyandotte County (Wyandotte), County

Secretary of State, State

County Administrator (Wyandotte), County

Unified Government of Wyandotte County (Wyandotte), County

Kansas City, Kansas, City

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq.

Voting Rights Act, unspecified, 52 U.S.C. § 10301 et seq (previously 42 U.S.C § 1973 et seq.)

Constitutional Clause(s):

Equal Protection

Other Dockets:

District of Kansas 5:21-cv-04089

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Findings Letter/Report

Non-settlement Outcome

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Discrimination Basis:

Race discrimination

Sex discrimination

Affected Race(s):

Black

Race, unspecified

Affected Sex/Gender(s):

Female

Voting:

Challenges to at-large/multimember district/election

Results test

Voting: General & Misc.