Aug 9, 2024 @ Polk County Courthouse: hearing to decide on State’s motion to dismiss
by Sondra Wilson. Posted 8/8/2024. Updated 9/18/2024.
After originally filing a petition to commence the suit on February 8, on July 23 I filed this much more in-depth Amended Petition. On July 26 the State filed a this motion to dismiss, and on August 5 I filed this resistance. There was a public hearing on Friday, August 9 at the Polk County Historic Courthouse with Judge Michael Huppert to decide whether or not the State’s motion to dismiss would be granted, or if the case will move forward. If the case moves forward, it is likely This suit is both “at law and at equity”; in other words, I am seeking both money damages and “reasonable demands” (in the form of injunctions) as redress. The First Amendment of the US Constitution guarantees “The right of The People to Peaceably to Assemble… and to Petition the Government for a Redress of Grievances.” Thank you, Veterans and Officers, for our safety and for protecting our First Amendment rights and our Fifth Amendment right to due process!!
Prior to the hearing, the following promotion was sent out through social media:
SAVE THE DATE!! August 9 at 9 am at the Polk County Historic Courthouse, courtroom #310!!
This coming Friday, on August 9 at the Polk County Historic Courthouse, located at 500 Mulberry St in Des Moines in courtroom 310, there will be a hearing to hear arguments regarding my amended petition, the State’s motion to dismiss, and my resistance to their motion. The lawsuit is Wilson v. STATE OF IOWA and KIM REYNOLDS FOR IOWA. Judge Michael Huppert will decide if my case moves forward or not. If my case moves forward, there will likely be another hearing scheduled soon after to determine if the court will allow the case to proceed as a class action (scroll down to learn more about that). PDF of below flier: Aug 9 flier – call to action for civil rights. My sincere gratitude to the Iowa Citizen who made this amazing flier. Thank you so much for helping people see how important this call to action is!
About the Aug. 9, 2024 hearing:
The purpose of the hearing was to decide if the court would grant the State’s motion to dismiss, or if my suit will move forward to trial.
Prior to the hearing, Wild Willpower put out a Call to Action for Civil Rights!!. I (Sondra) am so thankful for the 12 or so supporters who came to the courthouse to witness and show support! The fact that there were concerned faces in the audience spoke volumes to the Court.
The purpose to decide whether or not my suit would be dismissed, or if it would move forward to trial.
Assistant Attorney General Christopher Deist represented the a State, arguing in favor of their motion to dismiss. KIM REYNOLDS FOR IOWA has not responded to repeated attempts wherein I have attempted service, so they were not represented. They still have until August 19th to respond to service by publication, or a default judgment might be rendered in my favor.
Judge Huppert began by informing us that he has not finished reading our filings, and assured us that he would carefully do so.
Following Mr. Deist’s argument as to why this should be dismissed, I was given ~30-40 min to present my counterarguments, most of which were presented in the the resistance I filed (a resistance is a filing wherein a party argues why the adverse party’s motion ought not be granted).
After arguments were given, Judge Huppert allowed me a request: I told him that if he feels it necessary, as a matter of law, to dismiss my case on the face of the pleadings, to instead to provide me time to amend my pleadings “as justice demands”, in accordance with Iowa. R. Civ. 1.402. He assured me he will definitely take my request into consideration.
Judge Huppert showed signs that he was genuinely listening – his eyebrows raising at times, and he seemed to get a rise out of an analogy about the story of Jesus and the Pharisees, and how the State sounded a lot like the Pharisees… it was applicable and accurate, as I was arguing that the “spirit of the law doctrine” – which Iowa courts do in fact uphold – demands this case move forward.
“I hope I’m helping to interrupt the other terrible agenda from that alternate timeline some people have been trying to make happen! In fact I hope that other timeline just doesn’t exist at all anymore. Screw that timeline! All Iowans need this lawsuit whether they realize it or not! United We Stand!” – Sondra, with related GIF I totally feel:
Special thanks to TheLostSmiles, Marvel, Benedict Cumberpatch, and anyone who was part of this project for the amazing relevant GIF I am utilizing for First Amendment purposes in accordance with in accordance with the U.S. Copyright Office’s Fair Use policy.
To Donate:
Please donate to Sondra directly:
Venmo = @Sondra-Wilson-777
Paypal = S[email protected]
Sondra standing by Robin Hood statue outside Nottingham Castle on February 23, 2024 during DMACC’s London Abroad program: *
DISCLAIMER: Neither Des Moines Area Community College (“DMACC”) nor DMACC’s London Abroad program are in any way affiliated with Wild Willpower PAC or Sondra Wilson for Iowa Governor. Sondra graduated from DMACC with Honors in spring 2024, and transferred to ISU to earn her bachelor’s in entrepreneurship in fall 2024.