Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-01798/USCOURTS-casd-3_08-cv-01798-5/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 220
Nature of Suit: Foreclosure
Cause of Action: 18:241 Conspiracy Against Citizen Rights

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08cv1798

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

WARREN BRAD JOHNSON,

Plaintiff,

v.

TIMOTHY WENNES, et al.,

Defendants.

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Civil No. 08cv1798-L(JMA)

ORDER DENYING FREEDOM OF

INFORMATION ACT REQUEST 

Plaintiff Warren Brad Johnson sent correspondence to the undersigned that is designated

as a Freedom of Information (“FOIA) Request. The request concerns various items of

information about the undersigned in his position as a United States District Court judge under

Article III of the United States Constitution. 

The Court first notes that correspondence with a judge in a pending case is forbidden:

Except as otherwise provided by law, attorneys or parties to any action or

proceeding shall refrain from writing letters to the judge, or otherwise

communicating with the judge unless opposing counsel is present. All matters to

be called to a judge’s attention should be formally submitted as hereinafter

provided.

CIV. L.R. 83.9. Plaintiff’s correspondence with the Court violates this Rule and will not be

countenanced. Any further violations of this Rule shall result in sanctions being imposed on

plaintiff.

More importantly, a FOIA request directed to a judge is outside the scope of the statute. 

Case 3:08-cv-01798-L-JMA Document 31 Filed 01/05/09 Page 1 of 3
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The FOIA makes certain government agency information accessible to people. See 5 U.S.C. §

552. Governmental agencies have a duty to provide full disclosure of all records that are not

specifically and reasonably exempt. In other words, FOIA applies to all 15 departments

(Education, Homeland Security, etc.) and 73 other federal agencies (Environmental Protection

Agency, Federal Reserve System, etc.) in the executive branch of the United States government. 

FOIA expressly does not apply to the president, Congress or the courts. Section 551 of Title 5

specifically sets forth:

For the purpose of this subchapter – 

(1) “agency” means each authority of the Government of the United States,

whether or not it is within or subject to review by another agency, but does

not include – . . .

(B) the courts of the United States; . . .

5 U.S.C. § 551(1)(b) (emphasis added).

Accordingly, the Clerk of the Court is directed to file plaintiff’s correspondence as a

FOIA request. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that plaintiff’s FOIA request directed to the

undersigned is DENIED WITH PREJUDICE.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: January 5, 2009

M. James Lorenz

United States District Court Judge

COPY TO: 

HON. JAN M. ADLER

UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE

ALL PARTIES/COUNSEL

Case 3:08-cv-01798-L-JMA Document 31 Filed 01/05/09 Page 2 of 3
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Case 3:08-cv-01798-L-JMA Document 31 Filed 01/05/09 Page 3 of 3