Filed Date: Aug. 5, 2019
Closed Date: Aug. 6, 2019
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This is a case about a challenge to a California Act, the Trump Ballot Act, requiring President Trump to turn over his federal tax returns.
On August 5, 2019, a Republican voter in California filed this lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Central District of California. The plaintiff sued the Governor of California and the Secretary of State of California under 42 Section 1983. Represented by private counsel, the plaintiff sought a declaratory judgment that the Trump Ballot Act was unconstitutional and an injunction enjoining the Defendants from enforcing the Trump Ballot Act. The Trump Ballot Act required President Trump to turn over his tax returns from the last five years for public disclosure or be delisted from Republican Party primary ballots in the 2020 presidential election. Plaintiff claimed that the Act was unconstitutional and interfered with the plaintiff's right to vote and associate with other like-minded voters in Republican presidential primaries.
That same day, the plaintiff filed a Notice of Pendency of Other Action or Proceeding of an action in the Eastern District of California, Jerry Griffin et al. v. Alex Padilla, United States District Court Case No. CV 19-01477-JAM-DB (“Griffin”).Virtually identical to the instance case, the Griffin case alleged that the Trump Ballot Act violated the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution, as well as the Qualifications Clause and 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
Just one day later, on August 6, 2019, the plaintiff filed a Notice of Dismissal and dismissed the action in its entirety, while the Griffin case continued.
In Griffin, on October 2, 2019, the Eastern District of California held that the State of California was enjoined from enforcing the provisions of the Presidential Tax Transparency and Accountability Act to the extent they require candidates for the presidency to disclose their tax returns as a condition of appearing on California's presidential primary ballot. Ultimately, the Act requiring presidential candidates to release tax returns to appear on the primary ballot in California was struck down as unconstitutional.
Summary Authors
LFAA (1/13/2026)
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/16013680/parties/timothy-w-lykins-v-gavin-christopher-newsom/
Gutierrez, Philip S. (California)
Albert, Mark Anchor (California)
Riddick, Jason T. (California)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/16013680/timothy-w-lykins-v-gavin-christopher-newsom/
Last updated Feb. 21, 2026, 1:31 a.m.
State / Territory:
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project
Key Dates
Filing Date: Aug. 5, 2019
Closing Date: Aug. 6, 2019
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
Citizen of California, taxpayer, voter, and registered Republican
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: No
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
State
Alex Padilla, in his official capacity as the Secretary of State of the State of California
Gavin Christopher Newsom, in his official capacity as Governor of the State of California
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Causes of Action:
Constitutional Clause(s):
Other Dockets:
Central District of California 2:19-cv-06761
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: None Yet / None
Relief Sought:
Relief Granted:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Voting: