Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-01558/USCOURTS-caed-1_05-cv-01558-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1331 Federal Question: Other Civil Rights

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE

EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

ALICE WHITE AND DERRICK )

WHITE, )

)

)

)

Plaintiffs, )

)

vs. )

)

)

CITY OF FRESNO, et al., )

)

)

Defendant. )

)

)

No. CV-F-05-1558 OWW

ORDER DENYING DERRICK

WHITE'S PETITION FOR WRIT OF

HABEAS CORPUS AD

TESTIFICANDUM (Doc. 43)

On August 27, 2007, Plaintiff Derrick White, proceeding in

pro per and presenting incarcerated at the Fresno County Jail,

filed a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Ad Testificandum. By

the Petition, Derrick White seeks a writ directing the Fresno

County Jail to transport him to the District Court on September

24, 2007 for a hearing on Defendants’ motions for summary

judgment against him and Plaintiff Alice White. Derrick White 

asserts that his presence “is needed to give testimony ... both

on his own behalf and that of Alice White ....” The petition

Case 1:05-cv-01558-OWW -GSA Document 46 Filed 09/14/07 Page 1 of 3
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makes no reference to payment for transportation from the Fresno

County Jail. 

At the August 20, 2007 hearing on the motions, the Court

ruled that all briefing on the motions is complete. Derrick

White cannot give “testimony” or present any further evidence in

opposition to the motions and, because he is not a lawyer, he

cannot represent Alice White at the hearing on September 24,

2007. See Rule 83-183(a), Local Rules of Practice. 

Further, as the Court ruled in the "Order re Plaintiff

Derrick White's Request to Appear at Hearing" filed on June 26,

2007:

Plaintiff Derrick White, who is not a lawyer,

has no right to be transported to Court for

any pretrial hearings in this civil action. 

“[I]mprisonment suspends the plaintiff’s

usual right to be personally present at

judicial proceedings brought by himself or on

his behalf.” Hernandez v. Whiting, 881 F.2d

768, 770 (9 Cir.1989), citing Price v. th

Johnston, 334 U.S. 266, 285-286 (1948); see

also Demoran v. Witt, 781 F.2d 155, 158 (9th

Cir.1986); McKinney v. Boyle, 447 F.2d 1091,

1094 (9 Cir.1971). The determination th

whether to issue a writ to allow a prisoner

plaintiff to participate in a court hearing

rests within the sound discretion of the

district court. Price v. Johnston, id., at

284. Further, even though Derrick White is

in pro per and incarcerated, under the law,

he is responsible for making arrangements and

payment for his transportation expenses to

and from the Federal Courthouse. Manning v.

Tefft, 839 F.Supp. 126, 129-130 (D.R.I.1994).

The Court exercises its discretion and denies the petition. 

Arrangements have been made with the Fresno County Jail for

Derrick White to appear telephonically at the September 24, 2007

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hearing. Derrick White will be able to present any appropriate

argument in opposition to the motions for summary judgment

through that medium.

ACCORDINGLY, for the reasons stated above, Derrick White’s

Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus Ad Testificandum is DENIED.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: September 14, 2007 /s/ Oliver W. Wanger 

668554 UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:05-cv-01558-OWW -GSA Document 46 Filed 09/14/07 Page 3 of 3