Jane Doe v. Franklin County

The ACLU-EM filed suit on behalf of Jane Doe, who objected to the use of sectarian prayer at the beginning of Franklin County Commission meetings.

May 18, 2012

Plaintiff brings this lawsuit to vindicate her rights under the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution and Article I, §§ 6 and 7 of the Constitution of 1945 of the State of Missouri. She is seeking:

• a declaratory judgment finding that the Defendants’ acts, policies, practices and customs at issue are unconstitutional
• a declaratory judgment that Missouri Revised Statute § 478.070 violates the Missouri Constitution when it's applied to enforce covenants restricting political speech
• injunctions to prevent the future deprivation of her constitutional rights
• nominal damages
• costs
• attorneys' fees

U.S. District Court Judge Stephen Limbaugh Jr. ruled that the plaintiff could no longer remain anonymous, so we dropped the case. Jane Doe was concerned that if her name was revealed, she would be harassed and driven from her community.