A transgender woman has filed a lawsuit against the New York State Unified Court System and several of its officials, alleging discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
Plaintiff Nickie Kane names multiple defendants, including judges and court clerks from the court system. The case centers on allegations that Kane was subjected to discrimination based on her gender identity and disability. According to the complaint, Kane identifies as a transgender woman with disabilities, including PTSD and anxiety. She claims that after filing complaints about harassment by court staff, she faced retaliatory actions that restricted her access to legal recourse. Specifically, Kane alleges that an administrative order required her to seek permission before filing any new cases or motions in the Supreme Court of New York, Kings County—a measure she contends limited her access to the courts.
Kane also alleges that court staff forged judicial signatures to block her filings and made derogatory remarks regarding her gender identity. The complaint describes incidents in which court personnel allegedly called security on her without justification and failed to accommodate her disabilities by scheduling hearings at inaccessible times. Kane further claims that efforts to resolve these matters through official complaints were disregarded by senior court officials.
Kane seeks declaratory relief under several statutes, including 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and § 1985, alleging violations of her constitutional rights to due process and equal protection. The complaint also accuses the defendants of negligence in the supervision of their subordinates.
The plaintiff is represented by herself in this matter. The case was filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York under 25-CV-3595-RER-MMH.