Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-3_08-cv-01097/USCOURTS-cand-3_08-cv-01097-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 28:2241 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus

---

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

JAMES DALTON BELL,

Petitioner,

 vs.

UNITED STATES, et al,

Respondent(s). 

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

)

No C 08-1097 VRW (PR)

ORDER OF DISMISSAL

Petitioner, a federal prisoner currently incarcerated at the United States

Penitentiary in Tucson, Arizona, has filed a pro se petition for a writ of habeas

corpus under 28 USC § 2241 on behalf of "all current and past federal prisoners

(since 1948) whose cases originated in, or who are located within the jurisdiction

of, [the Northern District of California]."

Petitioner's federal criminal case did not originate in this district. Nor is

he located within this district. He simply claims "next friend" status on behalf of

other current and past federal prisoners whose cases originated in this district

and/or who are located in this district.

A person other than the detained person challenging his detention may file

an application for a writ of habeas corpus and establish standing as a "next

friend." Whitmore v Arkansas, 495 US 149, 163 (1990). A next friend does not

Case 3:08-cv-01097-VRW Document 4 Filed 03/25/08 Page 1 of 2
1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28 2

himself become a party to the habeas petition, "but simply pursues the cause on

behalf of the detained person, who remains the real party in interest." Id. There

are two firmly rooted prerequisites to "next friend" standing:

First, a next friend must provide an adequate explanation--such as

inaccessibility, mental incompetency, or other disability--why the

real party in interest cannot appear on his own behalf to prosecute

the action. Second, the next friend must be truly dedicated to the

best interests of the person on whose behalf he seeks to litigate and

it has been further suggested that a next friend must have some

significant relationship with the real party in interest. The burden is

on the next friend clearly to establish the propriety of his status and

thereby justify the jurisdiction of the court.

Id at 163-64 (citations omitted). Petitioner has not established either prerequisite

or provided even a marginally adequate explanation for his purported next friend

status. His desire to litigate on behalf of all other federal prisoners is not enough.

Petitioner's request for next friend status is DENIED and the petition is

DISMISSED for lack of standing. See id; see also 28 USC § 2242 (An

"[a]pplication for a writ of habeas corpus shall be in writing signed and verified

by the person for whose relief it is intended or by someone acting in his behalf.").

The clerk shall enter judgment in favor of respondent, terminate all

pending motions as moot and close the file.

SO ORDERED.

 

 

VAUGHN R WALKER

United States District Chief Judge 

G:\PRO-SE\VRW\HC.08\Bell, J1.or1.wpd 

Case 3:08-cv-01097-VRW Document 4 Filed 03/25/08 Page 2 of 2