Case: Alexandria-Williams v. Goins

2:22-cv-02134 | U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee

Filed Date: March 4, 2022

Closed Date: March 15, 2024

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

The issue is whether Plaintiff was wrongfully removed from the Ninth Congressional District race. On March 4, 2022, Plaintiff filed this complaint pro se in the Western District of Tennessee alleging violations of 42 U.S.C. § 1983, 42 U.S.C. § 1985, and 42 U.S.C. 1986 of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. Plaintiff filed this action against the Coordinator of Tennessee Elections, Chairwomen of the Tennessee Democratic Party, and the Shelby County Election Commissioner. In his compl…

The issue is whether Plaintiff was wrongfully removed from the Ninth Congressional District race.

On March 4, 2022, Plaintiff filed this complaint pro se in the Western District of Tennessee alleging violations of 42 U.S.C. § 1983, 42 U.S.C. § 1985, and 42 U.S.C. 1986 of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act. Plaintiff filed this action against the Coordinator of Tennessee Elections, Chairwomen of the Tennessee Democratic Party, and the Shelby County Election Commissioner. In his complaint, Plaintiff alleged that he was wrongfully terminated from the race for the Ninth Congressional Seat in 2020 in order to prevent an African American individual from taking office. 

This case relates to a previous matter in 2020, when a judge ruled that Plaintiff was improperly removed from the ballot and should have been placed on the election ballot for the Ninth Congressional District race, based upon the circumstances surrounding the Defendants' removal of Plaintiff off the 2018 ballot. In the 2018 matter, Chancellor Walter Evans stated the Tennessee Code Annotated Section 2-13-203 does not apply to Plaintiff's bid to run for Congress as he is running for one (1) of the four (4) offices listed, which falls under Tennessee Code Annotated Section 2-13-202. Chancellor Walter Evans also cited that the Tennessee Democratic Party's own bylaws acknowledge its lack of power to create procedures for selecting a nominee for U.S. Congress. 

On March 4, 2022, Plaintiff failed to file and complete the summonses that were to be submitted with the Complaint. The Court ordered Plaintiff to Show Cause as why the case should not be dismissed given Plaintiff's failure to complete the summonses and return them to the Court within 90 days. 

Plaintiff responded by a Response to Show Cause and Recommendation dated March 27, 2023, citing that the failure to provide and submit the completed summonses was a result of the changes in counsel of Plaintiff over the course of the case. John M. Drake was noted as the new counsel of Plaintiff, and was in the process of getting admitted to the Western District of Tennessee. 

On February 26, 2024, an Order and Recommendation by U.S. Magistrate Judge Charmaine G. Claxton was entered into under Administrative Order 2013-05, stating the case should be dismissed without prejudice due to Plaintiff's failure to timely serve defendants. 

On March 15, 2024, an Order Adopting Report and Recommendation and Dismissing Complaint without Prejudice for Failure to Effect Timely Service signed by United States District Court Judge Mark S. Norris was issued dismissing the case. 

Summary Authors

Alana Lightenberg (3/15/2024)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63136497/parties/alexandria-williams-v-goins/


Judge(s)

Norris, Mark Saalfield (Tennessee)

Expert/Monitor/Master/Other

Alexandria-Williams, M. Latroy (Tennessee)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

18:18-CH-00571

Order Issuing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law

Tennessee state trial court

July 18, 2018

July 18, 2018

Order/Opinion

2018 WL 6172019

1

2:22-cv-02134

Complaint - Jury Demand

March 4, 2022

March 4, 2022

Complaint
8

2:22-cv-02134

Order to Show Cause

March 13, 2023

March 13, 2023

Order/Opinion
9

2:22-cv-02134

Response to Show Cause Report and Recommendation

March 27, 2023

March 27, 2023

Pleading / Motion / Brief
12

2:22-cv-02134

Order Adopting Report and Recommendation and Dismissing Complaint without Prejudice for Failure to Effect Timely Service

March 15, 2024

March 15, 2024

Order/Opinion

2024 WL 1142070

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/63136497/alexandria-williams-v-goins/

Last updated Aug. 9, 2025, 9:44 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

PRO SE COMPLAINT against Steve Cohen, Mark Goins, Mary Mancini, Linda Phillips, filed by M. Latroy Alexandria-Williams. (Attachments: # 1 Judicial assignment cards)(jae) (Entered: 03/04/2022)

1 Judicial assignment cards

View on PACER

March 4, 2022

March 4, 2022

Clearinghouse
2

NOTICE OF CASE TRACKING ASSIGNMENT PURSUANT TO LOCAL RULE 16.2: Pursuant to Local Rule 16.2, this case has been assigned to the Standard track. http://www.tnwd.uscourts.gov/pdf/content/LocalRules.pdf (jae) (Entered: 03/04/2022)

March 4, 2022

March 4, 2022

PACER
3

NOTICE TO COMPLY WITH PLAN FOR ALTERNATE DISPUTE RESOLUTION (ADR): Pursuant to Section to 2.1 of the ADR Plan, all civil cases filed on or after Sept. 1, 2014, shall be referred automatically for ADR. For compliance requirements, refer to the ADR Plan at: http://www.tnwd.uscourts.gov/pdf/content/ADRPlan.pdf (jae) (Entered: 03/04/2022)

March 4, 2022

March 4, 2022

PACER
4

NOTICE OF RIGHT TO CONSENT TO THE EXERCISE OF CIVIL JURISDICTION BY A MAGISTRATE JUDGE Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 636(c), Fed.R.Civ.P.73, and Local Rule 72.1, this Court has designated the Magistrate Judges of this District to conduct trials and otherwise dispose of any civil case that is filed in this Court. Your decision to consent, or not consent, to the referral of your case to a United States Magistrate Judge for trial and entry of a final judgment must be entirely voluntary. The judge or magistrate judge to whom the case has been assigned will not be informed of your decision unless all parties agree that the case may be referred to a magistrate judge for these specific purposes. A less than unanimous decision will not be communicated by this office to either the judge or magistrate judge. The consent form is available on the courts website at https://www.tnwd.uscourts.gov/forms-and-applications.php (jae) (Entered: 03/04/2022)

March 4, 2022

March 4, 2022

PACER
5

Summons (three for each respondent) were given to petitioner to complete and return for signature and seal of court clerk. (jae) (Entered: 03/04/2022)

March 4, 2022

March 4, 2022

PACER
6

NOTICE of Signed Agreement to Receive Notice of electronic Filing (NEF) by M. Latroy Alexandria-Williams (agj) (Entered: 03/04/2022)

March 4, 2022

March 4, 2022

Clearinghouse
7

Case initiation fee: $ 402.00, receipt number M4676051525 (agj) (Entered: 03/04/2022)

March 4, 2022

March 4, 2022

Clearinghouse

Pursuant to Administrative Order 2013-05, this case has been assigned to the United States magistrate judge for management of all pretrial matters. Pursuant to Local Rule 4.1(b)(1), the plaintiff shall present the Clerk with a properly completed summons for each defendant, and the Clerk shall issue the summons(es) to the plaintiff for service on the defendant(s). (csf)

March 4, 2022

March 4, 2022

PACER

Notice LR 16.2

March 4, 2022

March 4, 2022

PACER

ADR Compliance

March 4, 2022

March 4, 2022

PACER

Notice LR 72.1 - Right to Consent to Jurisdiction by Magistrate Judge

March 4, 2022

March 4, 2022

PACER

Notice (Other)

March 4, 2022

March 4, 2022

PACER

Clerks Referral to Magistrate Judge

March 7, 2022

March 7, 2022

PACER
8

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. Show Cause Response due by 3/27/2023. Signed by Magistrate Judge Charmiane G. Claxton on 3/13/2023. (Claxton, Charmiane) (Entered: 03/13/2023)

March 13, 2023

March 13, 2023

Clearinghouse
9

Pro Se Response to Show Cause Report and Recommendation filed by M. Latroy Alexandria-Williams. (mlk) (Entered: 03/28/2023)

March 27, 2023

March 27, 2023

Clearinghouse
10

Notice (Other)

March 28, 2023

March 28, 2023

PACER
11

REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS re 1 Pro Se Complaint filed by M. Latroy Alexandria-Williams. Objections to R&R due by 3/11/2024. Signed by Magistrate Judge Charmiane G. Claxton on 2/26/2024. (Claxton, Charmiane) (Entered: 02/26/2024)

Feb. 26, 2024

Feb. 26, 2024

PACER
12

ORDER ADOPTING 11 REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION AND DISMISSING COMPLAINT WITHOUT PREJUDICE FOR FAILURE TO EFFECT TIMELY SERVICE. Signed by Judge Mark S. Norris on 3/15/2024. (Norris, Mark)

March 15, 2024

March 15, 2024

RECAP
13

JUDGMENT. Signed by Judge Mark S. Norris on 3/15/2024. (Norris, Mark) (Entered: 03/15/2024)

March 15, 2024

March 15, 2024

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: Tennessee

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Special Collection(s):

Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project

Key Dates

Filing Date: March 4, 2022

Closing Date: March 15, 2024

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Plaintiff M. Latroy Alexandria-Williams alleges wrongful ouster from the 9th Congressional District race in Western Tennessee and for wrongful termination of his candidacy for the 9th Congressional seat in the 2020 election.

Public Interest Lawyer: Unknown

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

LINDA PHILLIPS, Shelby County Election Commissioner (Memphis, Shelby), County

MARK GOINS, individually and official capacity as Coordinator of Tennessee Elections (Memphis, Shelby), None

MARY MANCINI, official capacity as Chairwoman of the Tennessee Democratic Party (Memphis, Shelby), Political Party

LINDA PHILLIPS, Shelby County Election Commissioner (Memphis, Shelby), County

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

42 U.S.C. § 1985

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Unknown

Nature of Relief:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Voting:

Election administration

Voting: General & Misc.