Title
Alabama People First of Alabama v. Merrill
Date
September 30, 2020
State or Country
Alabama
County/City:
Birmingham, AL
The Court the Case was filed in
United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama Southern Division - SCOTUS Supreme Court of the United States of America
Type of Case
Voter Fruad / Cause: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act / Nature of Suit: 441 Civil Rights: Voting
Case Number
2:20-cv-00619-AKK
Judges
ABDUL K. KALLON UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
The application for stay presented to Justice Thomas and by him referred to the Court is granted, and the district court’s September 30, 2020 order granting a permanent injunction is stayed pending disposition of the appeal in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and disposition of the petition for a writ of certiorari, if such writ is timely sought. Should the petition for a writ of certiorari be denied, this stay shall terminate automatically. In the event the petition for a writ of certiorari is granted, the stay shall terminate upon the sending down of the judgment of this Court.
Justice Sotomayor, with whom Justice Breyer and Justice Kagan join, dissenting from grant of stay.
Plaintiff
PEOPLE FIRST OF ALABAMA, et al., Plaintiffs
Defendant
JOHN MERRILL, et al., Defendants.
Intervener
Attorney Organization:
NAACP Legal Defense Fund
NDRN/Protection & Advocacy Organizations
Southern Poverty Law Center
Plaintiff Attorney
Plaintiff
People First of Alabama represented by Caren Elaine Short
SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER
PO Box 1287
Decatur, GA 30031
404−221−5868
Fax: 404−221−5857
Email: caren.short@splcenter.org
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Jenny R Ryan
Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program
Box 870395
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487−0395
205−348−4928
Fax: 205−348−3909
Email: jrryan2@adap.ua.edu
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Sara M Zampierin
Southern Poverty Law Center
400 Washington Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36104
334−956−8200
Fax: 334−956−8481
Email: sara.zampierin@splcenter.org
TERMINATED: 07/01/2020
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
William Van Der Pol , Jr
ALABAMA DISABILITIES
ADVOCACY PROGRAM
500 Martha Parham West
Box 870395
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
(205) 348−4928
Fax: (205) 348−3909
Email: wvanderpoljr@adap.ua.edu
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Deuel Ross
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND
EDUCATIONAL FUND INC
40 Rector Street 5th Floor
New York, NY 10006
212−965−7712
Fax: 212−226−7592
Email: dross@naacpldf.org
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Liliana Zaragoza
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND
EDUCATIONAL FUND INC
40 Rector Street 5th Floor
New York, NY 10006
212−965−2200
Fax: 212−226−7592
Email: lzaragoza@naacpldf.org
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Mahogane D Reed
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND
EDUCATIONAL FUND INC
700 14th Street NW
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005
202−682−1300
Fax: 202−682−1312
Email: mreed@naacpldf.org
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Nancy G Abudu
SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER
PO Box 1287
Decatur, AL 30031
404−521−6700
Fax: 404−221−5857
Email: nancy.abudu@splcenter.org
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Natasha Merle
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND
EDUCATIONAL FUND INC
40 Rector St, 5th Floor
New York, NY 10006
212−965−2200
Fax: 212−922−7592
Email: nmerle@naacpldf.org
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Steven Lance
NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE
ANDEDUCATIONAL FUND, INC.
40 Rector Street
5th Floor
New York, NY 10006
212−965−2200
Fax: 212−226−7592
Email: slance@naacpldf.org
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Plaintiff
Robert Clopton represented by Caren Elaine Short
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Jenny R Ryan
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Sara M Zampierin
(See above for address)
TERMINATED: 07/01/2020
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
William Van Der Pol , Jr
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Deuel Ross
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Mahogane D Reed
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Nancy G Abudu
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Natasha Merle
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Steven Lance
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Plaintiff
Eric Peebles represented by Caren Elaine Short
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Jenny R Ryan
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Sara M Zampierin
(See above for address)
TERMINATED: 07/01/2020
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
William Van Der Pol , Jr
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Deuel Ross
(See above for address)
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Mahogane D Reed
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Nancy G Abudu
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Steven Lance
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Plaintiff
Howard Porter, Jr. represented by Caren Elaine Short
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Jenny R Ryan
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Sara M Zampierin
(See above for address)
TERMINATED: 07/01/2020
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
William Van Der Pol , Jr
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Deuel Ross
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Liliana Zaragoza
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Mahogane D Reed
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Nancy G Abudu
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Natasha Merle
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Steven Lance
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Plaintiff
Annie Carolyn Thompson represented by Caren Elaine Short
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Jenny R Ryan
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Sara M Zampierin
(See above for address)
TERMINATED: 07/01/2020
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
William Van Der Pol , Jr
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Deuel Ross
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Liliana Zaragoza
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Mahogane D Reed
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Nancy G Abudu
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Natasha Merle
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Steven Lance
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Plaintiff
Greater Birmingham Ministries represented by Caren Elaine Short
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Jenny R Ryan
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Sara M Zampierin
(See above for address)
TERMINATED: 07/01/2020
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
William Van Der Pol , Jr
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Deuel Ross
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Liliana Zaragoza
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Mahogane D Reed
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Nancy G Abudu
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Natasha Merle
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Steven Lance
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Plaintiff
Alabama State Conference of the
NAACP
represented by Caren Elaine Short
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Jenny R Ryan
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Sara M Zampierin
(See above for address)
TERMINATED: 07/01/2020
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
William Van Der Pol , Jr
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Deuel Ross
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Liliana Zaragoza
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Mahogane D Reed
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Nancy G Abudu
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Natasha Merle
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Steven Lance
(See above for address)
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Defendant Attorney
Defendant
John Merrill
In his official capacity as the Secretary of
the State of Alabama
represented by James W Davis
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL
501 Washington Avenue
P O Box 300152
Montgomery, AL 36130−0152
334−242−7300
Fax: 334−353−8400
Email: jim.davis@alabamaag.gov
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Misty Shawn Fairbanks Messick
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL
FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA
501 Washington Avenue
P O Box 300152
Montgomery, AL 36130−0152
334−242−7300
Fax: 334−353−8440
Email: Misty.Messick@AlabamaAG.gov
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Brenton Merrill Smith
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL OF ALABAMA
P.O. Box 300152
501 Washington Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36130
334−353−4336
Fax: 334−353−8400
Email: Brenton.Smith@AlabamaAG.gov
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Jeremy Stone Weber
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL
STATE OF ALABAMA
501 Washington Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36130
334−353−1018
Fax: 334−353−8400
Email: jeremy.weber@alabamaag.gov
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Winfield J Sinclair
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL
501 Washington Avenue
PO Box 300152
Montgomery, AL 36130−0152
334−353−9110
Fax: 334−353−8440
Email: winfield.sinclair@alabamaag.gov
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Defendant
Kay Ivey
In her official capacity as the Governor
of the State of Alabama
represented by James W Davis
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Misty Shawn Fairbanks Messick
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Brenton Merrill Smith
(See above for address)
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Jeremy Stone Weber
(See above for address)
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Winfield J Sinclair
(See above for address)
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Defendant
State of Alabama (The) represented by James W Davis
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Misty Shawn Fairbanks Messick
(See above for address)
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Brenton Merrill Smith
(See above for address)
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Jeremy Stone Weber
(See above for address)
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Defendant
Alleen Barnett
In her official capacity as Absentee
Election Manager of Mobile County,
Alabama
represented by Jay M Ross
ADAMS AND REESE LLP
PO Box 1348
11 North Waters Street, Suite 23200
Mobile, AL 36633
251−433−3234
Fax: 251−438−7733
Email: jay.ross@arlaw.com
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Todd David Engelhardt
ADAMS AND REESE, LLP
1901 6th Avenue North, Ste. 3000
Birmingham, AL 35203
205−250−5020
Fax: 205−250−5034
Email: todd.engelhardt@arlaw.com
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Aubrey Patrick Dungan
ADAMS AND REESE, LLP
11 N. Water Street, Ste. 23200
Mobile, AL 36633
251−433−3234
Fax: 251−438−7733
Email: patrick.dungan@arlaw.com
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Robert F. Dyar
ADAMS AND REESE, LLP
1901 6th Avenue North, Ste. 3000
Birmingham, AL 35203
205−250−5016
Fax: 205−488−8016
Email: robert.dyar@arlaw.com
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Defendant
Jacqueline Anderson−Smith
In her official capacity as Circuit Clerk of
Jefferson County, Alabama
represented by Donald McKinley Carroll
Jefferson County Attorney's Office
716 Richard Arrington, Jr. Blvd. North
Suite 280
Birmingham, AL 35203
205−325−5688
Fax: 205−325−5840
Email: carrolld@jccal.org
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Theodore A Lawson , II
JEFFERSON COUNTY ATTORNEY'S
OFFICE
716 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. North
Room 280
Birmingham, AL 35203
205−325−5688
Fax: 205−325−5840
Email: lawsont@jccal.org
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Defendant
Karen Dunn Burks
In her official capacity as Deputy Circuit
Clerk of the Bessemer Division of
Jefferson County, Alabama
represented by Donald McKinley Carroll
(See above for address)
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Theodore A Lawson , II
(See above for address)
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Defendant
Mary B. Roberson
In her official capacity as Circuit Clerk of
Lee County, Alabama
represented by Brandon Keith Essig
LIGHTFOOT FRANKLIN & WHITE
400 20th Street North
Birmingham, AL 35203
205−581−0748
Fax: 205−581−0799
Email: bessig@lightfootlaw.com
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Robert Jackson Sewell
LIGHTFOOT FRANKLIN & WHITE
LLC
400 20th Street North
Birmingham, AL 35203
205−581−0700
Fax: 205−581−0799
Email: jsewell@lightfootlaw.com
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Defendant
United States of America
Amicus
Honest Elections Project represented by Steven M Brom
BACHUS & BROM LLC
4908 Cahaba River Road Suite 100
Birmingham, AL 35243
205−970−6747
Fax: 205−970−7776
Email: sbrom@bachusbrom.com
LEAD ATTORNEY
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Cameron Thomas Norris
CONSOVOY MCCARTHY PLLC
1600 Wilson Boulevard
Suite 700
Arlington, VA 22209
703−243−9423
Email: cam@consovoymccarthy.com
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Tyler R Green
CONSOVOY McCARTHY PLLC
1600 Wilson Blvd.
Suite 700
Arlington, VA 22209
703−243−9423
Email: tyler@consovoymccarthy.com
PRO HAC VICE
ATTORNEY TO BE NOTICED
Document Links 1 (Scribd et. al)
https://casetext.com/case/people-first-v-merrill-2%20
Document Link 2
https://www.law.cornell.edu/supremecourt/text/20A67
Document Link 3
https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/alabama/alndce/2:2020cv00619/173742/161/
Document Link 4
https://clearinghouse.net/chDocs/public/VR-AL-0268-9000.pdf
Comments
issues: Whether the coronavirus pandemic requires alleviating the enforcement of three Alabama election provisions: that absentee ballots must be signed in the presence of a notary or two adult witnesses, that applications for absentee ballots must include copies of valid photo ID, and that counties may not offer curbside voting.
Status: Witness and photo ID requirements upheld by 11th Circuit; Curbside voting ban reinstated by U.S. Supreme Court
Application for stay granted on Oct. 21, 2020. Justices Sotomayor, joined by Justices Breyer and Kagan, dissenting from the grant of stay.