Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-cand-4_01-cv-01351/USCOURTS-cand-4_01-cv-01351-15/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Prisoner Civil Rights

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United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

MARCIANO PLATA, et al.,

Plaintiffs,

v.

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER,

et al.,

Defendants.

NO. C01-1351 TEH

ORDER DENYING MOTION

FOR LEAVE TO FILE AMICUS

BRIEF BY FAMILIES TO

AMEND CALIFORNIA’S

3-STRIKES AND JACKIE

GOLDBERG

This matter comes before the Court on a motion for leave to file an amicus brief by

Families to Amend California’s 3-Strikes (“FACTS”) and former California State

Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg. The Court has reviewed both the motion and the

proposed amicus brief and now DENIES the motion for two independent reasons. First, the

motion and brief were filed by Francis Courser, who purports to represent FACTS and

former Assemblywoman Goldberg but does not appear to be a licensed attorney. 

Consequently, he is unable to represent anyone but himself before this Court. Civ. L.R.

3-9(a)-(b) (explaining that a person may represent him- or herself without an attorney, but

that only members of the bar of this Court may represent another individual, “corporation,

unincorporated association, partnership, or other such entity”). Second, the Court finds the

proposed brief to be irrelevant to the question of whether a three-judge court should be

convened to consider issuing a prisoner release order. The brief, which raises arguments

regarding whether Defendants are capable of addressing prison overcrowding absent further

intervention from this Court, does not concern either prong of 18 U.S.C. § 3626(a)(3)(A) and

instead impacts the inquiry that a three-judge court, if convened, would need to make:

Case 4:01-cv-01351-JST Document 775 Filed 07/18/07 Page 1 of 2
United States District Court

For the Northern District of California

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namely, whether a prisoner release order is warranted because “no other relief will remedy

the violation of” Plaintiffs’ constitutional rights. 18 U.S.C. § 3626(a)(3)(E). Accordingly,

with good cause appearing, the motion to file an amicus brief by FACTS and former

Assemblywoman Goldberg is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: 07/18/07 

THELTON E. HENDERSON, JUDGE

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

Case 4:01-cv-01351-JST Document 775 Filed 07/18/07 Page 2 of 2