The opinion
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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11 HEBERTO ANTONIO PARRA Case No. 1:26-cv-03025-KES-EPG-HC
BOHORQUEZ,
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Petitioner, ORDER REGARDING NEXT FRIEND
13 STANDING
v.
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WARDEN,
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Respondent.
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17 I.
18 BACKGROUND
19 On April 21, 2026, Erwin Pirela (“Mr. Pirela”) filed a petition for writ of habeas corpus
20 and a motion for temporary restraining order on behalf of his brother-in-law, Heberto Antonio
21 Parra Bohorquez (“Petitioner”), who is an immigration detainee currently detained at the
22 California City Correctional Center. (ECF No. 1.)
23 II.
24 DISCUSSION
25 “‘[N]ext friends’ appear in court on behalf of detained prisoners who are unable, usually
26 because of mental incompetence or inaccessibility, to seek relief themselves.” Whitmore v.
27 Arkansas, 495 U.S. 149, 162 (1990) (citing United States ex rel. Toth v. Quarles, 350 U.S. 11,
13, n.3 (1955)). However, “‘next friend’ standing is by no means granted automatically to
1 whomever seeks to pursue an action on behalf of another.” Whitmore, 495 U.S. at 163. In order
2 to establish standing, the next friend must: (1) “provide an adequate explanation—such as
3 inaccessibility, mental incompetence, or other disability—why the real party in interest cannot
4 appear on his own behalf to prosecute the action”; and (2) “be truly dedicated to the best interests
5 of the person on whose behalf he seeks to litigate.” Whitmore, 495 U.S. at 163 (internal citations
6 omitted). “The burden is on the ‘next friend’ clearly to establish the propriety of his status and
7 thereby justify the jurisdiction of the court.” Id. at 164.
8 “[C]ourts have routinely adhered to the general rule prohibiting pro se plaintiffs from
9 pursuing claims on behalf of others in a representative capacity.” Simon v. Hartford Life, Inc.,
10 546 F.3d 661, 664 (9th Cir. 2008) (collecting cases). See Johns v. County of San Diego, 114 F.3d
11 874, 877 (9th Cir. 1997) (“[A] non-lawyer ‘has no authority to appear as an attorney for others
12 than himself.” (quoting C.E. Pope Equity Trust v. United States, 818 F.2d 696, 697 (9th Cir.
13 1987)); C.E. Pope Equity Trust, 818 F.2d at 697 (“Although a non-attorney may appear in propia
14 persona in his own behalf, that privilege is personal to him.”).
15 “Although the federal habeas corpus statute permits a ‘next friend’ to pursue a habeas
16 action on behalf of another in certain circumstances, see 28 U.S.C. § 2246, the statute does not
17 authorize the ‘next friend’ to proceed without an attorney.” United States v. Caputo, No. 1:14-cr-
18 00041-JLT-SKO-1, 2023 WL 5207318, at *5 (E.D. Cal. Aug. 14, 2023). See Hinojosa v.
19 Warden, SATF/SP, No. 2:22-cv-1780 DB P, 2023 WL 2874169, at *2 (E.D. Cal. Apr. 10, 2023)
20 (“[E]ven if Mr. Bland’s motion for ‘next friend’ status were granted, he would have to be
21 represented by counsel in order to proceed as a ‘next friend’ because pro se litigants have no
22 authority to represent anyone other than themselves.”), report and recommendation adopted,
23 2023 WL 4711303 (E.D. Cal. July 24, 2023). Additionally, the Local Rules of Practice for the
24 United States District Court, Eastern District of California provide in pertinent part:
25 Any individual who is representing himself or herself without an
attorney must appear personally or by courtesy appearance by an
26 attorney admitted to the Bar of this Court and may not delegate
that duty to any other individual, including husband or wife, or any
27 other party on the same side appearing without an attorney. Any
individual representing himself or herself without an attorney is
1 Rules, and all other applicable law. All obligations placed on
“counsel” by these Rules apply to individuals appearing in propria
2 persona. Failure to comply therewith may be ground for dismissal,
judgment by default, or any other sanction appropriate under these
3 Rules. A corporation or other entity may appear only by an
attorney.
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5 L.R. 183(a).
6 “Thus, in an action in which the sole plaintiff is incapacitated and cannot proceed pro se,
7 the plaintiff must be represented by competent counsel, or alternatively, the action must be
8 dismissed without prejudice.” Complot v. JP Morgan Chase Bank, No. CV-23-02348-PHX-
9 DWL, 2023 WL 8234271, at *3 (D. Ariz. Nov. 28, 2023) (citing Johns v. Cnty. of San Diego,
10 114 F.3d 874, 877 (9th Cir. 1997)).
11 Assuming that Mr. Pirela qualifies for next-friend status, which would permit him to
12 initiate the instant petition, it does not allow him to prosecute this action pro se on his brother-in-
13 law’s behalf. Therefore, either: (1) Mr. Pirela must secure licensed counsel to proceed, or (2)
14 Petitioner Heberto Antonio Parra Bohorquez must notify the Court in writing that he will appear
15 on his own behalf to prosecute this habeas action.1 Otherwise, the petition will be dismissed
16 without prejudice.
17 III.
18 ORDER
19 Based on the foregoing, the Court HEREBY ORDERS that:
20 1. Within THIRTY (30) days from the date of service of this order, either:
21 (a) Petitioner Heberto Antonio Parra Bohorquez must notify the Court in writing that
22 going forward, he will appear on his own behalf to prosecute this habeas action;
23 OR
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1 Additionally, Petitioner may file a motion to appoint counsel if he cannot retain counsel or proceed on
26 his own behalf. See 18 U.S.C. § 3006A(a)(2)(B) (authorizing the appointment of counsel at any stage of
the proceeding for financially eligible persons if “the interests of justice so require”); Weygandt v. Look,
27 718 F.2d 952, 954 (9th Cir. 1983) (To determine whether to appoint counsel, the “court must evaluate the
likelihood of success on the merits as well as the ability of the petitioner to articulate his claims pro se in
] (b) Mr. Erwin Pirela must secure licensed counsel and said counsel shall file a notice
2 of appearance in this matter.
3 2. The Clerk of Court is DIRECTED to send Petitioner Heberto Antonio Parra Bohorquez
4 two copies of this order.’
5 3. Failure to comply with this order may result in a recommendation of dismissal for failure
6 to comply with a court order.
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g IT IS SO ORDERED.
9] Dated: _ April 22, 2026 [spe ey —
10 UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
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28 | 2 The Court requests that to the extent practicable Petitioner forward a copy of this order to Mr. Pirela.