Opinion
24-cv-00782-JD
02-15-2024
IN RE DEBBIE REID O'GORMAN
ORDER
JAMES DONATO, United States District Judge
In this bankruptcy appeal, the appellant, Grant Reynolds Revocable Living Trust Dated September 25, 2020, is purporting to proceed “in pro per” through Grant Reynolds. Dkt. No. 1 at ECF pp. 4-5. Reynolds has also filed for the Trust an “ex parte application for order shortening time for hearing on motion to issue a notice pf pending action.” Dkt. No. 4.
There is no indication that Reynolds is a lawyer. “Although a non-attorney may appear in propria persona in his own behalf, that privilege is personal to him. He has no authority to appear as an attorney for others than himself.” C.E. Pope Equity Trust v. United States, 818 F.2d 696, 697 (9th Cir. 1987) (citations omitted). Reynolds' status as a “trustee,” Dkt. No. 4 at 3, makes no difference on this issue. See C.E. Pope Equity Trust, 818 F.2d at 698 (trustee status does not “include[] the right to present arguments pro se [for the trust] in federal court”); see also Civil L.R. 3-9(b) (“A corporation, unincorporated association, partnership or other such entity may appear only through a member of the bar of this Court.”). The Court notes that the transmittal notice of the bankruptcy appeal, Dkt. No. 1 at ECF p.1, also indicates that the filing fee has not been paid.
The ex parte application, Dkt. No. 4, is consequently terminated, and this appeal will be dismissed unless the Trust appears through counsel and pays the filing fee by February 29, 2024.
IT IS SO ORDERED.