Talk:Next friend

Law Mid‑importance

	Law portal This article is within the scope of WikiProject Law, an attempt at providing a comprehensive, standardised, pan-jurisdictional and up-to-date resource for the legal field and the subjects encompassed by it.LawWikipedia:WikiProject LawTemplate:WikiProject Lawlaw articles
Mid	This article has been rated as Mid-importance on the project's importance scale.

United States Low‑importance

	United States portal This article is within the scope of WikiProject United States, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of topics relating to the United States of America on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the ongoing discussions. Template Usage Articles Requested! Become a Member Project Talk Alerts United StatesWikipedia:WikiProject United StatesTemplate:WikiProject United StatesUnited States articles
Low	This article has been rated as Low-importance on the project's importance scale.

United Kingdom Low‑importance

	United Kingdom portal This article is within the scope of WikiProject United Kingdom, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of the United Kingdom on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.United KingdomWikipedia:WikiProject United KingdomTemplate:WikiProject United KingdomUnited Kingdom articles
Low	This article has been rated as Low-importance on the project's importance scale.

England Low‑importance

	England portal This article is within the scope of WikiProject England, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of England on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.EnglandWikipedia:WikiProject EnglandTemplate:WikiProject EnglandEngland-related articles
Low	This article has been rated as Low-importance on the project's importance scale.

Wales Low‑importance

	Wales portal This article is within the scope of WikiProject Wales, a collaborative effort to improve the coverage of Wales on Wikipedia. If you would like to participate, please visit the project page, where you can join the discussion and see a list of open tasks.WalesWikipedia:WikiProject WalesTemplate:WikiProject WalesWales articles
Low	This article has been rated as Low-importance on the project's importance scale.

Untitled

I have encountered this term in an American court decision Hendren v. Campbell with the following plaintiffs: "JON HENDREN, by next friend ROBERT HENDREN, ROBERT HENDREN, by his own right and E. THOMAS MARSH". Jon was a 9th grade student whom the lawsuit was filed on behalf of. (The court case was about a creationist textbook.)

Here are some links:

American legal definition (via Wex)
Another definition (via law.com) -- suggests the practiced has mostly been supplanted.

MichaelSH 04:18, 11 August 2006 (UTC)[reply]

The practice continues, but is often used in different contexts than those for which it was originally designed. Legal appointment of a guardian is far more common in the case of minors.

For example, most of the habeas corpus cases brought in connection with the U.S. war on terrorism have been brought by someone with "next friend" status. Similarly, many cases seeking an injunction to prevent life sustaining treatment from being withdrawn from a patient are initially brought by a "next friend" until a guardian can be appointed by a court. Ohwilleke 21:13, 22 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]