Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-01492/USCOURTS-caed-1_16-cv-01492-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
J.T.
Plaintiff
Tehachapi Unified School District
Defendant
Janice Wolfe
Plaintiff

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

J.T., a minor, by and through his guardian 

ad litem JANICE WOLFE,

Plaintiff,

v.

TEHACHAPI UNIFIED SCHOOL 

DISTRICT,

Defendant.

No. 1:16-cv-01492-DAD-JLT

ORDER APPOINTING GUARDIAN AD 

LITEM

(Doc. No. 4)

On October 4, 2016, petitioner Janice Wolfe filed a petition to be appointed guardian ad 

litem for plaintiff J.T. for purposes of this action. (Doc. No. 21.)

“District courts have a special duty, derived from Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 17(c), 

to safeguard the interests of litigants who are minors.” Robidoux v. Rosengren, 638 F.3d 1177, 

1181 (9th Cir. 2011). Rule 17 provides that “[t]he court must appoint a guardian ad litem—or 

issue another appropriate order—to protect a minor or incompetent person who is unrepresented 

in an action.” Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c)(2). Local Rule 202(a) of this court further states, in pertinent 

part: 

Upon commencement of an action or upon initial appearance in 

defense of an action by or on behalf of a minor . . . the attorney 

representing the minor or incompetent person shall present . . . a 

motion for the appointment of a guardian ad litem by the Court, or

. . . a showing satisfactory to the Court that no such appointment is 

Case 1:16-cv-01492-DAD-JLT Document 12 Filed 11/10/16 Page 1 of 2
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necessary to ensure adequate representation of the minor or 

incompetent person. See Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c).

The decision to appoint a guardian ad litem “must normally be left to the sound discretion of the 

trial court.” United States v. 30.64 Acres of Land, 795 F.2d 796, 804 (9th Cir. 1986).

Petitioner Janice Wolfe petitions the court to appoint her as guardian ad litem to her 

grandchild, plaintiff J.T., a six-year-old minor. Petitioner states that she is the grandmother to 

plaintiff J.T., and that she will represent and protect the interests of plaintiff J.T. Finding good 

cause, the court grants the petition (Doc. No. 4) and appoints Janice Wolfe guardian ad litem of

J.T., a minor and plaintiff to this action.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: November 10, 2016 

UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 1:16-cv-01492-DAD-JLT Document 12 Filed 11/10/16 Page 2 of 2