Case: Arctic Village Council v. Meyer

3AN-20-07858Cl | Alaska state trial court

Filed Date: Sept. 8, 2020

Closed Date: Oct. 12, 2020

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

COVID-19 Summary: This case, initially being tracked by the Stanford-MIT Healthy Elections Project, was filed by Arctic Village Council, the League of Women Voters, and individual Alaska voters with underlying health conditions. The plaintiffs sought an order enjoining the State of Alaska from enforcing its notarization/witness requirement for mail in-ballots during the November 2020 election, arguing that the requirement left self-isolated, immunocompromised citizens with an untenable choice b…

COVID-19 Summary: This case, initially being tracked by the Stanford-MIT Healthy Elections Project, was filed by Arctic Village Council, the League of Women Voters, and individual Alaska voters with underlying health conditions. The plaintiffs sought an order enjoining the State of Alaska from enforcing its notarization/witness requirement for mail in-ballots during the November 2020 election, arguing that the requirement left self-isolated, immunocompromised citizens with an untenable choice between risking their health to vote and not voting at all. On October 13, 2020, the court granted the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction and ordered the state to count all returned ballots without witness signatures.


This is a case challenging the Alaska Division of Elections’ requirement that eligible Alaskan voters who wish to cast absentee ballots by mail or by electronic transmission either (a) sign their absentee ballot envelopes in the presence of a notary or other authorized official or (b) sign their ballots in the presence of a witness who is at least eighteen years old and obtain a signature from the witness. On September 8, 2020, Arctic Village Council, League of Women Voters of Alaska, and individual Alaska voters with underlying health conditions filed this lawsuit in the Superior Court for the State of Alaska. They sued the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Alaska and the Alaska Division of Elections, arguing that enforcing the requirement during the Covid-19 pandemic would deprive high-risk and self-isolating Alaskan citizens of the fundamental right to vote in violation of the Alaska Constitution. They further argued that the requirement violated the Alaska Constitution’s guarantee of equal rights by treating the plaintiffs and similarly situated (primarily older) voters differently from those individuals with easy access to a witness.

At the time the complaint was filed, Arctic Village Council’s community members were under a strict shelter-in-place order prohibiting members of any household from gathering with anyone outside of their households. Together, the plaintiffs asserted that the witness requirement significantly burdened older voters with underlying health conditions by forcing them to violate distancing protocols and/or risk their health in order to vote in the November 2020 election. They sought a declaration that the witness requirement was unconstitutional and invalid during the Covid-19 pandemic and preliminary and permanent injunctive relief enjoining enforcement of the requirement. The case was assigned to Superior Court Judge Dani Crosby.

On October 5, 2020, the court granted the plaintiffs’ request for a preliminary injunction, finding that the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on the merits, and requested that the parties submit a proposed order. Judge Crosby wrote that enforcing the witness requirement would impose a severe burden on the plaintiffs’ fundamental right to vote by forcing the plaintiffs and other voters to choose between risking their health by coming into contact with a witness or forgoing their right to vote. The court rejected the defendants’ arguments that the witness requirement protected against voter fraud and preserved public confidence in the validity of absentee voting, and that last minute changes would to election administration would damage voter confidence in the integrity and consistency of the election system as a whole.

The court also rejected the defendants’ argument that laches applied in the case and that the plaintiffs should have filed suit earlier, reasoning that the pandemic had not been a static or predictable experience in Alaska or elsewhere.

A week later, the superior court issued a preliminary injunction vacating the witness requirement in the 2020 General Election and ordering the defendants to count all returned absentee ballots without signatures. It further ordered the defendants to communicate to voters that the witness requirement had been suspended, including contacting absentee voters directly, issuing a press release, updating voters via social media, and making several changes to the Alaska Division of Elections website regarding the suspension of the requirement.

The defendants appealed to the Alaska Supreme Court seeking review of the superior court’s injunction for abuse of discretion. The Supreme Court held oral arguments on an expedited basis, but concluded that the superior court had not abused its discretion by granting the preliminary injunction and affirmed the lower court’s order.

Summary Authors

Rachel Harrington (9/6/2021)

People


Judge(s)

Crosby, Dani (Alabama)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Chabria, Natasha (District of Columbia)

Chaudhuri, Pooja (District of Columbia)

Decker, Joshua A. (Alaska)

Furlong, Wesley James (Alaska)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document

3AN-20-07858Cl

Docket

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

Sept. 21, 2021

Sept. 21, 2021

Docket

3AN-20-07858Cl

Complaint

Sept. 8, 2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Complaint

3AN-20-07858Cl

Order Granting Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction (Case Motion #1) and Denying Defendants' Motion to Dismiss (Case Motion #3)

Arctic Village Council vs. Meyer

U.S. District Court for the District of Alaska

Oct. 5, 2020

Oct. 5, 2020

Order/Opinion

3AN-20-07858Cl

Preliminary Injunction Order

Oct. 13, 2020

Oct. 13, 2020

Order/Opinion

Resources

Docket

Last updated Jan. 24, 2024, 2:14 p.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link

Receipt Number: 1777617Payment Amount: $250.00

Sept. 8, 2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Decker, Joshua A representing Plaintiff League of Women Voters of Alaska as of 09/08/2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Koteff, Stephen N representing Plaintiff League of Women Voters of Alaska as of 09/08/2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Decker, Joshua A representing Plaintiff Jones, Elizabeth L as of 09/08/2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Koteff, Stephen N representing Plaintiff Jones, Elizabeth L as of 09/08/2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Decker, Joshua A representing Plaintiff Clark, Barbara as of 09/08/2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Koteff, Stephen N representing Plaintiff Clark, Barbara as of 09/08/2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Plaintiffs' Memorandun of Law in Support of Motion For Preliminary Injunction Attorney: Newman, Matthew Neil (1305023) Case Motion #1: Plaintiffs' Motion For Preliminary Injunction

Sept. 8, 2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Plaintiffs' Motion For Preliminary Injunction Attorney: Newman, Matthew Neil (1305023) Filing Party: Arctic Village Council; League of Women Voters of Alaska; Jones, Elizabeth L; Clark, Barbara Case Motion #1

Sept. 8, 2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Newman, Matthew Neil representing Plaintiff League of Women Voters of Alaska as of 09/08/2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Newman, Matthew Neil representing Plaintiff Jones, Elizabeth L as of 09/08/2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Newman, Matthew Neil representing Plaintiff Clark, Barbara as of 09/08/2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Newman, Matthew Neil representing Plaintiff Arctic Village Council as of 09/08/2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Summons and Notice to Both Parties of Judicial Assignment

Sept. 8, 2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Superior Court Complaint Receipt: 1777617 Date: 09/08/2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Initial Judicial Assignment: Honorable Gregory Miller

Sept. 8, 2020

Sept. 8, 2020

Supplemental Certificate of Service Attorney: Furlong, Wesley James (1611108) Arctic Village Council (Plaintiff); League of Women Voters of Alaska (Plaintiff); Elizabeth L Jones (Plaintiff); Barbara Clark (Plaintiff);

Sept. 9, 2020

Sept. 9, 2020

Case Judge: Miller, Gregory ADisposition: Perempt Disqual by Defendant/Respondent/Appellee

Sept. 10, 2020

Sept. 10, 2020

Peremptory Disqualification by Defendant/Respondent Assigned to the Honorable Judge Dani Crosby

Sept. 10, 2020

Sept. 10, 2020

Notice of Change of Judge (Peremptory Challenge) Kevin Meyer (Defendant); Gail Fenumiai (Defendant); Alaska Division of Elections (Defendant);

Sept. 10, 2020

Sept. 10, 2020

Partial Opposition to Plaintiff's Motion for Expedited Consideration Attorney: Paton-Walsh, Margaret (0411074) Attorney: Harrison, Lael A (0811093) Case Motion #2: Plaintiffs' Motion for Expedited Consideration

Sept. 10, 2020

Sept. 10, 2020

Plaintiffs' Motion for Expedited Consideration Attorney: Landreth, Natalie (0405020) Arctic Village Council (Plaintiff); League of Women Voters of Alaska (Plaintiff); Elizabeth L Jones (Plaintiff); Barbara Clark (Plaintiff); ; Natalie Landreth (Attorney) on behalf of Arctic Village Council, League of Women Voters of Alaska, Elizabeth L Jones, Barbara Clark (Plaintiff) Filing Party: Arctic Village Council; League of Women Voters of Alaska; Jones, Elizabeth L; Clark, Barbara Case Motion #2

Sept. 10, 2020

Sept. 10, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Landreth, Natalie representing Plaintiff Clark, Barbara as of 09/10/2020

Sept. 10, 2020

Sept. 10, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Landreth, Natalie representing Plaintiff Jones, Elizabeth L as of 09/10/2020

Sept. 10, 2020

Sept. 10, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Landreth, Natalie representing Plaintiff League of Women Voters of Alaska as of 09/10/2020

Sept. 10, 2020

Sept. 10, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Landreth, Natalie representing Plaintiff Arctic Village Council as of 09/10/2020

Sept. 10, 2020

Sept. 10, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Harrison, Lael A representing Defendant Meyer, Kevin as of 09/11/2020

Sept. 11, 2020

Sept. 11, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Paton-Walsh, Margaret representing Defendant Meyer, Kevin as of 09/11/2020

Sept. 11, 2020

Sept. 11, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Harrison, Lael A representing Defendant Fenumiai, Gail as of 09/11/2020

Sept. 11, 2020

Sept. 11, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Paton-Walsh, Margaret representing Defendant Fenumiai, Gail as of 09/11/2020

Sept. 11, 2020

Sept. 11, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Harrison, Lael A representing Defendant Alaska Division of Elections as of 09/11/2020

Sept. 11, 2020

Sept. 11, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Paton-Walsh, Margaret representing Defendant Alaska Division of Elections as of 09/11/2020

Sept. 11, 2020

Sept. 11, 2020

Affidavit of Wesley James Furlong Attorney: Furlong, Wesley James (1611108) Arctic Village Council (Plaintiff);

Sept. 14, 2020

Sept. 14, 2020

Notice to Parties

Sept. 14, 2020

Sept. 14, 2020

Calendaring Notice issued: Oral Argument on September 28, 2020 at 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm before Judge Crosby, courtroom 304. Parties to be telephonic.

Sept. 15, 2020

Sept. 15, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Furlong, Wesley James representing Plaintiff Arctic Village Council as of 09/15/2020

Sept. 15, 2020

Sept. 15, 2020

Order Granting Motion for Expedited Consideration Case Motion #1: Plaintiffs' Motion For Preliminary Injunction, Case Motion #2: Plaintiffs' Motion for Expedited Consideration

Sept. 15, 2020

Sept. 15, 2020

Motion to Accept Overlength Brief Attorney: Harrison, Lael A (0811093) Gail Fenumiai (Defendant); Alaska Division of Elections (Defendant); ; Lael A Harrison (Attorney) on behalf of Gail Fenumiai, Alaska Division of Elections (Defendant) Filing Party: Fenumiai, Gail; Alaska Division of Elections Case Motion #4

Sept. 21, 2020

Sept. 21, 2020

Cross-Motion to Dismiss [Filed with Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction] Attorney: Harrison, Lael A (0811093) Alaska Division of Elections (Defendant); ; Lael A Harrison (Attorney) on behalf of Alaska Division of Elections (Defendant) Filing Party: Alaska Division of Elections Case Motion #3

Sept. 21, 2020

Sept. 21, 2020

Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction and Cross-Motion to Dismiss Attorney: Paton-Walsh, Margaret (0411074) Kevin Meyer (Defendant); Gail Fenumiai (Defendant); Alaska Division of Elections (Defendant); Case Motion #1: Plaintiffs' Motion For Preliminary Injunction

Sept. 21, 2020

Sept. 21, 2020

Order Granting Motion on Record Case Motion #4 Motion to Accept Overlength Brief

Sept. 22, 2020

Sept. 22, 2020

Location: Courtroom 304, Nesbett CourthouseType: Status Hearing: Superior CourtResult: Hearing HeldEvent Judge: Crosby, Dani R

Sept. 22, 2020

Sept. 22, 2020

Plaintiffs' Non-Opposition to Defendants' Motion for Expedited Consideration Attorney: Landreth, Natalie (0405020) Arctic Village Council (Plaintiff); ; Natalie Landreth (Attorney) on behalf of Arctic Village Council (Plaintiff) Case Motion #2: Plaintiffs' Motion for Expedited Consideration

Sept. 23, 2020

Sept. 23, 2020

Application for Temporary Restraining Order Attorney: Landreth, Natalie (0405020) Arctic Village Council (Plaintiff); ; Natalie Landreth (Attorney) on behalf of Arctic Village Council (Plaintiff) Filing Party: Arctic Village Council Case Motion #5

Sept. 28, 2020

Sept. 28, 2020

Opposition to Defendants' Motion to Dismiss [Filed with Reply in Support of Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction] Attorney: Landreth, Natalie (0405020) Arctic Village Council (Plaintiff); ; Natalie Landreth (Attorney) on behalf of Arctic Village Council (Plaintiff) Case Motion #3: Cross-Motion to Dismiss [Filed with Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction]

Sept. 28, 2020

Sept. 28, 2020

Reply in Support of Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction and Opposition to Defendants Motion to Dismiss Attorney: Landreth, Natalie (0405020) Arctic Village Council (Plaintiff); ; Natalie Landreth (Attorney) on behalf of Arctic Village Council (Plaintiff) Case Motion #1: Plaintiffs' Motion For Preliminary Injunction

Sept. 28, 2020

Sept. 28, 2020

Location: Courtroom 304, Nesbett CourthouseType: Oral ArgumentResult: Hearing ResetEvent Judge: Crosby, Dani R

Sept. 28, 2020

Sept. 28, 2020

Defendants' Opposition to Plaintiffs' Application for a Temporary Restraining Order Attorney: Harrison, Lael A (0811093) Attorney: Paton-Walsh, Margaret (0411074) Kevin Meyer (Defendant); Gail Fenumiai (Defendant); Alaska Division of Elections (Defendant); Case Motion #5: Application for Temporary Restraining Order

Sept. 29, 2020

Sept. 29, 2020

Order Denying Motion Case Motion #5 Application for Temporary Restraining Order

Sept. 30, 2020

Sept. 30, 2020

Defendants' Reply in Support of Motion to Dismiss Attorney: Harrison, Lael A (0811093) Kevin Meyer (Defendant); ; Margaret Paton-Walsh (Attorney) on behalf of Kevin Meyer (Defendant) Case Motion #3: Cross-Motion to Dismiss [Filed with Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction]

Sept. 30, 2020

Sept. 30, 2020

Location: Courtroom 304, Nesbett CourthouseType: Oral ArgumentResult: Taken Under AdvisementEvent Judge: Crosby, Dani R

Oct. 1, 2020

Oct. 1, 2020

Dendants' Notice of Supplemental Authority Attorney: Harrison, Lael A (0811093) Attorney: Paton-Walsh, Margaret (0411074) Case Motion #1: Plaintiffs' Motion For Preliminary Injunction Kevin Meyer (Defendant); Gail Fenumiai (Defendant); Alaska Division of Elections (Defendant);

Oct. 2, 2020

Oct. 2, 2020

Citation of Supplemental Authorities Attorney: Landreth, Natalie (0405020) Attorney: Newman, Matthew Neil (1305023) Attorney: Furlong, Wesley James (1611108) Attorney: Koteff, Stephen N (9407070) Attorney: Decker, Joshua A (1201001) Arctic Village Council (Plaintiff); League of Women Voters of Alaska (Plaintiff); Elizabeth L Jones (Plaintiff); Barbara Clark (Plaintiff); Case Motion #1: Plaintiffs' Motion For Preliminary Injunction, Case Motion #3: Cross-Motion to Dismiss [Filed with Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction]

Oct. 2, 2020

Oct. 2, 2020

Order Granting Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction (Case Motion #1) and Denying Defendants' Motion to Dismiss (Case Motion #3) Case Motion #1: Plaintiffs' Motion For Preliminary Injunction, Case Motion #3: Cross-Motion to Dismiss [Filed with Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction]

Oct. 5, 2020

Oct. 5, 2020

Location: Courtroom 304, Nesbett CourthouseType: Decision on RecordResult: Hearing VacatedEvent Judge: Crosby, Dani R

Oct. 5, 2020

Oct. 5, 2020

[Proposed] Preliminary Injunction Order Attorney: Newman, Matthew Neil (1305023) Attorney: Landreth, Natalie (0405020) Arctic Village Council (Plaintiff); League of Women Voters of Alaska (Plaintiff); Elizabeth L Jones (Plaintiff); Barbara Clark (Plaintiff); ; Natalie Landreth (Attorney) on behalf of Arctic Village Council (Plaintiff); Matthew Neil Newman (Attorney) on behalf of Arctic Village Council (Plaintiff) Filing Party: Arctic Village Council; League of Women Voters of Alaska; Jones, Elizabeth L Case Motion #9

Oct. 6, 2020

Oct. 6, 2020

[Proposed] Preliminary Injunction Order Attorney: Paton-Walsh, Margaret (0411074) Alaska Division of Elections (Defendant); ; Margaret Paton-Walsh (Attorney) on behalf of Alaska Division of Elections (Defendant) Filing Party: Alaska Division of Elections Case Motion #8

Oct. 6, 2020

Oct. 6, 2020

State's Notice of Filing Proposed Preliminary Injunction Order Attorney: Harrison, Lael A (0811093) Alaska Division of Elections (Defendant); ; Lael A Harrison (Attorney) on behalf of Alaska Division of Elections (Defendant)

Oct. 6, 2020

Oct. 6, 2020

State's Expedited Motion for Stay of Court's Injunction Attorney: Harrison, Lael A (0811093) Alaska Division of Elections (Defendant); ; Margaret Paton-Walsh (Attorney) on behalf of Alaska Division of Elections (Defendant) Filing Party: Alaska Division of Elections Case Motion #7

Oct. 6, 2020

Oct. 6, 2020

Motion for Expedited Consideration of Motion for Stay Attorney: Harrison, Lael A (0811093) Kevin Meyer (Defendant); Gail Fenumiai (Defendant); Alaska Division of Elections (Defendant); ; Lael A Harrison (Attorney) on behalf of Kevin Meyer, Gail Fenumiai, Alaska Division of Elections (Defendant) Filing Party: Meyer, Kevin; Fenumiai, Gail; Alaska Division of Elections Case Motion #6

Oct. 6, 2020

Oct. 6, 2020

State's Response Regarding Plaintiffs' Proposed Preliminary Injunction Order Attorney: Harrison, Lael A (0811093) Attorney: Paton-Walsh, Margaret (0411074) Case Motion #9: [Proposed] Preliminary Injunction Order

Oct. 7, 2020

Oct. 7, 2020

Order Granting Defendant's Motion for Expedited Consideration of Motion for Stay Case Motion #6: Motion for Expedited Consideration of Motion for Stay, Case Motion #7: State's Expedited Motion for Stay of Court's Injunction

Oct. 7, 2020

Oct. 7, 2020

Motion Deemed Moot Case Motion #7 State's Expedited Motion for Stay of Court's Injunction

Oct. 8, 2020

Oct. 8, 2020

Order Deeming Case Motion #7 Moot: Order Regarding Preliminary Injunction Case Motion #7: State's Expedited Motion for Stay of Court's Injunction, Case Motion #8: [Proposed] Preliminary Injunction Order, Case Motion #9: [Proposed] Preliminary Injunction Order

Oct. 8, 2020

Oct. 8, 2020

Response to Defendants' Expidited Motion for Stay of Court's Injunction Attorney: Landreth, Natalie (0405020) Attorney: Newman, Matthew Neil (1305023) Attorney: Furlong, Wesley James (1611108) Attorney: Koteff, Stephen N (9407070) Attorney: Decker, Joshua A (1201001) Arctic Village Council (Plaintiff); League of Women Voters of Alaska (Plaintiff); Elizabeth L Jones (Plaintiff); Barbara Clark (Plaintiff); Case Motion #7: State's Expedited Motion for Stay of Court's Injunction

Oct. 8, 2020

Oct. 8, 2020

Notice to Parties

Oct. 9, 2020

Oct. 9, 2020

Calendaring Notice issued: telephonic Status Hearing on October 13, 2020 at 11:00 am before Judge Crosby.

Oct. 12, 2020

Oct. 12, 2020

Receipt Number: 1787006Payment Amount: $8.00

Oct. 13, 2020

Oct. 13, 2020

Preliminary Injunction Order

Oct. 13, 2020

Oct. 13, 2020

Motion Deemed Moot Case Motion #9 [Proposed] Preliminary Injunction Order

Oct. 13, 2020

Oct. 13, 2020

Motion Deemed Moot Case Motion #8 [Proposed] Preliminary Injunction Order

Oct. 13, 2020

Oct. 13, 2020

Copies Made per Admin Rule 9 (e)(1) For a single document or portion of a document $5 If copies of multiple documents are requested at the same time, for each additional document (after the first) $3 Receipt: 1787006 Date: 10/13/2020

Oct. 13, 2020

Oct. 13, 2020

Location: Courtroom 304, Nesbett CourthouseType: Status Hearing: Superior CourtResult: Hearing ContinuedEvent Judge: Crosby, Dani R

Oct. 13, 2020

Oct. 13, 2020

Receipt Number: 1787462Payment Amount: $0.24

Oct. 14, 2020

Oct. 14, 2020

Motion for Appearance of Out-of-State Counsel Pro Hac Vice Attorney: Koteff, Stephen N (9407070) League of Women Voters of Alaska (Plaintiff); Elizabeth L Jones (Plaintiff); Barbara Clark (Plaintiff); Filing Party: League of Women Voters of Alaska; Jones, Elizabeth L; Clark, Barbara Case Motion #10

Nov. 3, 2020

Nov. 3, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Singh, Aadika J representing Plaintiff Clark, Barbara as of 11/20/2020

Nov. 20, 2020

Nov. 20, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Singh, Aadika J representing Plaintiff Jones, Elizabeth L as of 11/20/2020

Nov. 20, 2020

Nov. 20, 2020

Order Granting Motion League of Women Voters of Alaska Case Motion #10 Motion for Appearance of Out-of-State Counsel Pro Hac Vice

Nov. 20, 2020

Nov. 20, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Singh, Aadika J representing Plaintiff League of Women Voters of Alaska as of 11/27/2020

Nov. 27, 2020

Nov. 27, 2020

Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on Behalf of Plaintiffs [Pooja Chaudhuri] Attorney: Landreth, Natalie (0405020) Arctic Village Council (Plaintiff); League of Women Voters of Alaska (Plaintiff); Elizabeth L Jones (Plaintiff); Barbara Clark (Plaintiff); ; Natalie Landreth (Attorney) on behalf of Arctic Village Council, League of Women Voters of Alaska, Elizabeth L Jones, Barbara Clark (Plaintiff) Filing Party: Arctic Village Council; League of Women Voters of Alaska; Jones, Elizabeth L; Clark, Barbara Case Motion #13

Dec. 7, 2020

Dec. 7, 2020

Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on Behalf of Plaintiffs [Ezra D. Rosenberg] Attorney: Landreth, Natalie (0405020) Arctic Village Council (Plaintiff); League of Women Voters of Alaska (Plaintiff); Elizabeth L Jones (Plaintiff); Barbara Clark (Plaintiff); ; Natalie Landreth (Attorney) on behalf of Arctic Village Council, League of Women Voters of Alaska, Elizabeth L Jones, Barbara Clark (Plaintiff) Filing Party: Arctic Village Council; League of Women Voters of Alaska; Jones, Elizabeth L; Clark, Barbara Case Motion #12

Dec. 7, 2020

Dec. 7, 2020

Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on Behalf of Plaintiffs [Natasha Chabria] Attorney: Landreth, Natalie (0405020) Arctic Village Council (Plaintiff); League of Women Voters of Alaska (Plaintiff); Elizabeth L Jones (Plaintiff); Barbara Clark (Plaintiff); ; Natalie Landreth (Attorney) on behalf of Arctic Village Council, League of Women Voters of Alaska, Elizabeth L Jones, Barbara Clark (Plaintiff) Filing Party: Arctic Village Council; League of Women Voters of Alaska; Jones, Elizabeth L; Clark, Barbara Case Motion #11

Dec. 7, 2020

Dec. 7, 2020

Location: Courtroom 304, Nesbett CourthouseType: Status Hearing: Superior CourtResult: Hearing ContinuedEvent Judge: Crosby, Dani R

Dec. 10, 2020

Dec. 10, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Chabria, Natasha representing Plaintiff League of Women Voters of Alaska as of 12/11/2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Chabria, Natasha representing Plaintiff Jones, Elizabeth L as of 12/11/2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Chabria, Natasha representing Plaintiff Clark, Barbara as of 12/11/2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Chabria, Natasha representing Plaintiff Arctic Village Council as of 12/11/2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Rosenberg, Ezra D representing Plaintiff League of Women Voters of Alaska as of 12/11/2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Rosenberg, Ezra D representing Plaintiff Clark, Barbara as of 12/11/2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Rosenberg, Ezra D representing Plaintiff Jones, Elizabeth L as of 12/11/2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Rosenberg, Ezra D representing Plaintiff Arctic Village Council as of 12/11/2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Chaudhuri, Pooja representing Plaintiff League of Women Voters of Alaska as of 12/11/2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Chaudhuri, Pooja representing Plaintiff Jones, Elizabeth L as of 12/11/2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Chaudhuri, Pooja representing Plaintiff Clark, Barbara as of 12/11/2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Attorney Information Attorney Chaudhuri, Pooja representing Plaintiff Arctic Village Council as of 12/11/2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Order Granting Motion Arctic Village Council Case Motion #11 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on Behalf of Plaintiffs [Natasha Chabria]

Dec. 11, 2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Order Granting Motion Arctic Village Council Case Motion #12 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on Behalf of Plaintiffs [Ezra D. Rosenberg]

Dec. 11, 2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Order Granting Motion Arctic Village Council Case Motion #13 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on Behalf of Plaintiffs [Pooja Chaudhuri]

Dec. 11, 2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Calendaring Notice issued: telephonic status hearing April 12 ,2021 at 2:30 pm before Judge Crosby.

Dec. 11, 2020

Dec. 11, 2020

Receipt Number: 1805217Payment Amount: $82.40

Dec. 15, 2020

Dec. 15, 2020

Case Details

State / Territory: Alaska

Case Type(s):

Election/Voting Rights

Special Collection(s):

COVID-19 (novel coronavirus)

Healthy Elections COVID litigation tracker

Key Dates

Filing Date: Sept. 8, 2020

Closing Date: Oct. 12, 2020

Case Ongoing: No

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Arctic Village Council, a federally-recognized Indian tribal government that exercises powers of self-governance and jurisdiction over its Neets’ąįį Gwich’in tribal members living in Arctic Village; League of Women Voters; and individual Alaska voters with underlying health conditions rendering them especially vulnerable to complications from Covid-19.

Plaintiff Type(s):

American Indian Tribe

Private Plaintiff

Attorney Organizations:

ACLU National (all projects)

Lawyers Comm. for Civil Rights Under Law

ACLU Affiliates (any)

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

State of Alaska, State

Alaska Division of Elections, State

Defendant Type(s):

Jurisdiction-wide

Case Details

Causes of Action:

State law

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Injunctive (or Injunctive-like) Relief

Any published opinion

Outcome

Prevailing Party: Plaintiff

Nature of Relief:

Preliminary injunction / Temp. restraining order

Source of Relief:

Litigation

Content of Injunction:

Preliminary relief granted

Issues

Voting:

Voting: General & Misc.

Election administration

Voter ID