IN RE: GUANTANAMO BAY DETAINEE LITIGATION

Filing 202

Memorandum in opposition to re (346 in 1:02-cv-00828-CKK) MOTION to Substitute Parties filed by UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, GEORGE W. BUSH, DONALD H. RUMSFELD, RICHARD B. MYERS, RICK BACCUS, TERRY CARRICO. (Attachments: # 1 Exhibit, # 2 Text of Proposed Order)(Warden, Andrew)

IN RE: GUANTANAMO BAY DETAINEE LITIGATION

Doc. 202

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ____________________________________ ) IN RE: ) ) Misc. No. 08-442 (TFH) GUANTANAMO BAY ) DETAINEE LITIGATION ) ____________________________________) Civil Action No. 02-CV-828 (CKK) RESPONDENTS' OPPOSITION TO PETITIONER'S MOTION TO SUBSTITUTE PARTIES Respondents hereby oppose petitioner Foad Mahmoud Al Rabiah's motion to substitute his next friend.1 On May 1, 2002, petitioner Al Rabia, acting through his next friend, Monzer M.H.A. Rabieah, initiated action by filing a Complaint challenging his detention as an enemy combatant at the United States Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba ("GTMO"). On July 8, 2002, petitioner, acting again through his next friend, filed an Amended Complaint raising claims for relief under the Fifth Amendment, the Alien Tort Statute, and the Administrative Procedure Act. This Court, however, has always construed the Amended Complaint "as a petition for writ of habeas corpus."2 See Rasul v. Bush, 215 F. Supp.2d 55, 63-64 (D.D.C. 2002) ("Plaintiffs cannot escape having the Court convert their action into writs for habeas corpus . . . ."). In the instant motion, petitioner Rabiah seeks to substitute his original next-friend, who is

At this time respondents do not oppose petitioner's motion to substitute various named respondents who are no longer serving in official capacity positions. As noted in the Joint Status Report filed on July 21, 2008, however, the petitioners in Guantanamo Bay habeas cases have named as respondents individuals who are not custodians of Guantanamo Bay detainees, and who are therefore not proper respondents. Respondents reserve the right to seek dismissal of all improper respondents as appropriate.
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1

Petitioner also filed an application for writ of habeas corpus on July 27, 2004. See dkt.

no. 44.

Dockets.Justia.com

now deceased, with a new next friend, Yahya Al Rabiah. Petitioner's motion provides no support for this request other than a cryptic cite, without any explanation, to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 25. Next friend standing is not automatically granted to anyone who seeks to pursue an action behalf of another person, however. See Whitmore v. Arkansas, 495 U.S. 149, 163 (1990). To obtain next friend standing, the purported next friend must satisfy the "two firmly rooted prerequisites" articulated by the Supreme Court in Whitmore: (1) "provide an adequate explanation -- such as inaccessibility, mental incompetence, or other disability -- why the real party in interest cannot appear on his own behalf to prosecute the action"; and (2) have a significant relationship with the petitioner in order to demonstrate that he is truly dedicated to the petitioner's best interests. Id. at 163-64. Petitioner Al Rabiah makes no attempt to satisfy the legal standard for next-friend standing, nor can he. Since this case was initially filed in 2002, petitioner's counsel have had the opportunity to visit petitioner Al Rabiah at Guantanamo Bay on numerous occasions. Indeed, pursuant to the requirement in the Amended Protective Order and Procedures for Counsel Access to Detainees at the United States Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, 344 F. Supp. 2d 174 (D.D.C. 2004), Exhibit A, § III.C.2, petitioner's counsel have submitted an authorization signed by petitioner Al Rabiah indicating his assent to counsel's representation of him in this matter. See Exhibit A. In light of this direct authorization, there is no longer any appropriate basis for a next-friend to remain in this case. Consequently, petitioner's motion to substitute the next friend should be denied, the existing next-friend should be dismissed from the case, and the petition should be converted into a petition brought directly on behalf of petitioner Al Rabiah. A proposed order is attached.

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Dated: July 24, 2008

Respectfully Submitted, GREGORY G. KATSAS Assistant Attorney General JOHN C. O'QUINN Deputy Assistant Attorney General /s/ Andrew I. Warden JOSEPH H. HUNT (D.C. Bar No. 431134) VINCENT M. GARVEY (D.C. Bar No. 127191) JUDRY L. SUBAR TERRY M. HENRY ANDREW I. WARDEN (IN Bar. No. 23840-49) PAUL E. AHERN Attorneys United States Department of Justice Civil Division, Federal Programs Branch 20 Massachusetts Avenue N.W. Washington, DC 20530 Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Attorneys for Respondents

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