Filed Date: Sept. 27, 2018
Closed Date: Oct. 11, 2018
Clearinghouse coding complete
This case alleged that the plaintiff’s right to vote was taken away unconstitutionally.
On September 27, 2018, a self-represented plaintiff filed this case in the United States District Court of New Jersey against the State of New Jersey, Ras Baraka, Barack Obama, Phil Murphy, Chris Christie, Corey Broker, Donald Trump, the United States of America, FBI Newark and FBI California. The plaintiff’s claim was based on a constitutional violation, arguing that the named defendants violated her civil rights by taking away her right to vote against her will. The case was heard by Judge John Michael Vazquez.
The court interpreted the plaintiff's claim to be pursuant to Bivens v. Six Unknown Fed. Narcotic Agents, which is a claim that alleges "a violation of a right secured by the Constitution or laws of the United States committed by a person acting under color of state law." The court noted, however, that the Supreme Court has only approved three types of claims to be raised under Bivens: (1) a violation of the Fourth Amendment search and seizure protections, (2) a violation of the Fifth Amendment due process protections and (3) a violation of the Eighth Amendment protections against cruel and unusual punishment. The court concluded that the plaintiff's claim is outside the scope of a Bivens cause of action.
On October 11, 2018, the court dismissed the case with prejudice with regard to the defendants State of New Jersey, Governor Chris Christie, and Governor Phil Murphy under the Eleventh Amendment's sovereign immunity clause, which prohibits private suits against non-consenting states in federal court, and this bar is extended to state employees acting on behalf of the state. The court dismissed the claims against the other defendants without prejudice under the Eleventh Amendment's sovereign immunity clause, which has been interpreted to bar claims against a federal official in their official capacity because it co an action against the United States and Bivens claims against the United States are barred by sovereign immunity.
The case is now closed.
For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/8019134/parties/williams-v-state-of-new-jersey/
Vazquez, John Michael (New Jersey)
WILLIAMS, APRIL DENISE (New Jersey)
See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/8019134/williams-v-state-of-new-jersey/
Last updated April 12, 2025, 12:25 p.m.
State / Territory: New Jersey
Case Type(s):
Special Collection(s):
Trump Administration 1.0: Challenges to the Government
Key Dates
Filing Date: Sept. 27, 2018
Closing Date: Oct. 11, 2018
Case Ongoing: No
Plaintiffs
Plaintiff Description:
individual plaintiff residing in New Jersey
Plaintiff Type(s):
Public Interest Lawyer: No
Filed Pro Se: Yes
Class Action Sought: No
Class Action Outcome: Not sought
Defendants
Donald Trump (- United States (national) -), Federal
Barack Obama (- United States (national) -), Federal
FBI NEWARK and CALIFORNIA (- United States (national) -), Federal
Defendant Type(s):
Case Details
Available Documents:
Outcome
Prevailing Party: Defendant
Nature of Relief:
Source of Relief:
Issues
Voting: