Case: Carpenter v. Chairman, Hinds County Election Commission

3:15-cv-00383 | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi

Filed Date: May 26, 2015

Closed Date: April 14, 2016

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Case Summary

This is a case about challenging the constitutionality of the Mississippi’s Voter I.D. statute. On May 26, 2015, a resident in Hinds County, City of Jackson, MS filed this lawsuit against the Chairman of the Hinds County Election Commission in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Northern Division. The case was assigned to the United States District Judge Carlton W. Reeves. According to the Complaint, the resident in Hinds County, City of Jackson sued Hinds…

This is a case about challenging the constitutionality of the Mississippi’s Voter I.D. statute. On May 26, 2015, a resident in Hinds County, City of Jackson, MS filed this lawsuit against the Chairman of the Hinds County Election Commission in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, Northern Division. The case was assigned to the United States District Judge Carlton W. Reeves.

According to the Complaint, the resident in Hinds County, City of Jackson sued Hinds County pursuant to 42 USC Section 1983 and 42 USC Section 1973, alleging violations of the Fourteenth Amendment. As a pro se plaintiff, the resident in Hinds County, City of Jackson sought judgement for: injunctive relief compelling Hinds County to allow him to vote in all upcoming 2015 and 2016 elections; an order directing his registration not to be purged from voter rolls; an order prohibiting the application of MS voter identification laws since it does not require absentee voter to present identification to vote; and any other relief as the court deems just. The resident in Hinds County, City of Jackson’s claims arose out of his not being allowed to vote in the State of Mississippi due to a prior felony conviction. In addition, he claimed that Mississippi’s Voter I.D. statute violated the Voting Rights Act. The plaintiff asserted that he had been wrongfully barred from voting legally, and that Mississippi’s Voter I.D. statute denied him equal protection of the laws in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment because it did not require absentee, mail-in voters to present voter identification and disproportionately affected African Americans, diluting the Black vote in violation of the Voting Rights Act.

On January 15, 2016, Hinds County filed a motion to dismiss.

On April 14, 2016, the court issued an order. According to the order, the plaintiff failed to appear for the telephonic case management conference and the court entered a show cause order that was mailed to his address in New Orleans, Louisiana. In addition, the plaintiff filed a change of address and the show cause order was resent to the updated address; however, he failed to respond to the show cause order by the deadline. In a further attempt to give the plaintiff an opportunity to avoid dismissal of his claims, the magistrate judge entered a report and recommendation on March 21, 2016 and gave the parties 10 days to file any objections. A copy of the report was mailed to the plaintiff at the address listed on the docket sheet, but he did not file any objections. Based on the foregoing, it was ordered that the magistrate judge's recommendation to dismiss all claims for failure to prosecute was adopted as the finding of this Court.

Summary Authors

Tatsushi Nishizaki (2/14/2024)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4302467/parties/carpenter-v-chairman-hinds-county-election-commission/


Judge(s)

Reeves, Carlton Wayne (Mississippi)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Carpenter, Quincey B. (Mississippi)

Attorney for Defendant

Allen, William Robert (Mississippi)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

3:15-cv-00383

Complaint

Carpenter V. Mississippi Election Commission

May 26, 2015

May 26, 2015

Complaint
11

3:15-cv-00383

Election Commission’s Motion To Dismiss

Carpenter V. Mississippi Election Commission

Jan. 15, 2016

Jan. 15, 2016

Pleading / Motion / Brief
12

3:15-cv-00383

Chairman, Hinds County, Mississippi Election Commission's Memorandum of Authorities in Support of Motion to Dismiss

Carpenter V. Mississippi Election Commission

Jan. 15, 2016

Jan. 15, 2016

Pleading / Motion / Brief
18

3:15-cv-00383

Order Adopting Report And Recommendation

Carpenter V. Mississippi Election Commission

April 14, 2016

April 14, 2016

Order/Opinion

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/4302467/carpenter-v-chairman-hinds-county-election-commission/

Last updated Jan. 30, 2025, 2:33 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against Chairman, Hinds County Election Commission, filed by Quincey B. Carpenter. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet)(RRL) (Entered: 05/26/2015)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

May 26, 2015

May 26, 2015

Clearinghouse
2

*RESTRICTED* MOTION for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis by Quincey B. Carpenter (RRL) (Entered: 05/26/2015)

May 26, 2015

May 26, 2015

PACER
3

ORDER *RESTRICTED* granting 2 Motion for Leave to Proceed in forma pauperis. Signed by Magistrate Judge F. Keith Ball on 6/1/15. (JRB) (Entered: 06/01/2015)

June 1, 2015

June 1, 2015

PACER
4

Summons Issued as to Chairman, Hinds County Election Commission. (TLC) (Entered: 06/10/2015)

June 9, 2015

June 9, 2015

PACER
5

Summons Returned Unexecuted as to Chairman, Hinds County Election Commission. (ND) (Entered: 07/22/2015)

July 22, 2015

July 22, 2015

PACER
6

Change of Address filed by Quincey B. Carpenter. (RRL) (Entered: 10/01/2015)

Oct. 1, 2015

Oct. 1, 2015

PACER
7

Summons Reissued as to Chairman, Hinds County Election Commission. (TLC) (Entered: 10/08/2015)

Oct. 8, 2015

Oct. 8, 2015

PACER
8

SUMMONS Returned Executed by Quincey B. Carpenter Chairman, Hinds County Election Commission served on 10/22/2015, answer due 11/12/2015. (RRL) (Entered: 10/23/2015)

Oct. 22, 2015

Oct. 22, 2015

PACER
9

ANSWER to 1 Complaint by Chairman, Hinds County Election Commission.(Allen, William) (Entered: 11/18/2015)

Nov. 18, 2015

Nov. 18, 2015

PACER
10

Rule 16(a) Initial Order Telephonic Case Management Conference set for 2/10/2016 02:00 PM before Magistrate Judge F. Keith Ball. No later than seven (7) days prior to the TCMC, a confidential memorandum AND a proposed Case Management Order shall be submitted via e-mail to ball_chambers@mssd.uscourts.gov. Counsel for Defendant shall set up the conference and contact the Court at 601-608-4460. (A copy has been mailed this date to Pro Se Plaintiff.) (JEJ) (Entered: 01/07/2016)

Jan. 7, 2016

Jan. 7, 2016

PACER
11

MOTION to Dismiss by Chairman, Hinds County Election Commission (Allen, William) (Entered: 01/15/2016)

Jan. 15, 2016

Jan. 15, 2016

Clearinghouse
12

MEMORANDUM in Support re 11 MOTION to Dismiss filed by Chairman, Hinds County Election Commission (Allen, William) (Entered: 01/15/2016)

Jan. 15, 2016

Jan. 15, 2016

Clearinghouse
18

ORDER ADOPTING REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS. Signed by District Judge Carlton W. Reeves on 4/14/16. [copy mailed to plaintiff] (RRL)

April 14, 2016

April 14, 2016

RECAP

Case Details

State / Territory: Mississippi

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Special Collection(s):

Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA) project

Key Dates

Filing Date: May 26, 2015

Closing Date: April 14, 2016

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

A resident in Hinds County, City of Jackson

Public Interest Lawyer: No

Filed Pro Se: Yes

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Hinds County, County

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

42 U.S.C. § 1983

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Equal Protection

Fifteenth Amendment

Available Documents:

Trial Court Docket

Complaint (any)

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Defendant

Nature of Relief:

Injunction / Injunctive-like Settlement

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Issues

Voting:

Voting: General & Misc.