Magistrate Judge Robert Norway of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida issued a decision on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, denying pseudonymity for a plaintiff identified as Doe. Doe is an autistic former candidate for judge of Florida's Ninth Judicial Circuit who is suing the Florida Bar and its officials over alleged failure to accommodate his disability during a bar investigation.

Doe argued that because the lawsuit challenges actions by an "official arm of the Supreme Court of Florida," he should be allowed to proceed under a pseudonym. He also contended that public disclosure of his medical and psychological information would put his personal safety at risk. The lawsuit arises partly from a denied disability accommodation request and partly from facts related to a domestic incident in which Doe sought police assistance regarding a former intimate partner.

Doe's claim under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act requires disclosure of his autism diagnosis and related personal circumstances. He also cited precedent from the Eleventh Circuit recognizing the need for pseudonymous litigation in cases involving sensitive personal information. However, the court ruled against his request for anonymity.

In filings, Doe stated he ran for judge in the 2024 election cycle, receiving 48.7% of the vote in the nonpartisan primary against the incumbent. He publicly disclosed his autism diagnosis during that campaign. Doe also said he did not qualify to run in the 2026 judicial election, partly due to the bar actions that are the subject of his lawsuit.

The case highlights tensions between privacy interests in disability and personal history and the public's interest in transparency in judicial disciplinary matters.

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