Case ID: f-appx_431/html/0119-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PER CURIAM.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

In re Richard CORBIN, Petitioner.
    No. 11-2463.
    United States Court of Appeals, Third Circuit.
    Submitted Pursuant to Rule 21, Fed. R.App. P. June 17, 2011.
    Opinion filed June 20, 2011.
    Richard Corbin, Philadelphia, PA, pro se.
    Before: RENDELL, FUENTES and SMITH, Circuit Judges.
   OPINION

PER CURIAM.

Richard Corbin has filed a pro se “petition for a writ of prohibition” under 28 U.S.C. § 1651, claiming that the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania is without subject-matter jurisdiction over his pending trial on various criminal charges. See E.D. Pa. Crim. No. lO-cr-00352-002. Corbin asks that we “bar[ ] fui'ther prosecution” pending proof of “jurisdiction over the accused to be a fact at law.” Petition at 1. Among other things, Corbin argues that “he is only subject to judicial power at common law. Judicial power at common law requires a corpus delecti or real damaged party who has sworn out a complaint and provided an indemnity bond, which is lacking in the accusatory instrument and on the record.” Id. at 3.

A writ of prohibition or mandamus under § 1651 is a drastic remedy available in extraordinary circumstances only. See In re Diet Drugs Prods. Liab. Litig., 418 F.3d 372, 378 (3d Cir.2005). The petitioner seeking this relief must show that “(1) no other adequate means [exist] to attain the relief he desires, (2) the party’s right to issuance of the writ is clear and indisputable, and (3) the writ is appropriate under the circumstances.” Hollingsworth v. Perry, - U.S. -, 130 S.Ct. 705, 710, 175 L.Ed.2d 657 (2010) (per curiam) (quotation marks omitted).

Corbin has not shown an entitlement to the extraordinary remedy that he seeks. Corbin can raise, and apparently already has raised, his jurisdictional challenge before the District Court, and thus has an adequate alternative means to obtain the relief that he now seeks. If Corbin is dissatisfied with the District Court’s adjudication of the jurisdictional issue, he can pursue the issue on appeal after entry of a final judgment in his criminal case, should an adverse judgment be entered against him. Finally, Corbin also has not shown on the present record that his right to the relief sought through his jurisdictional challenge is “clear and indisputable” so as to support this Court’s issuance of an extraordinary writ under § 1651.

For the foregoing reasons, we will deny the petition for a writ of prohibition. 
      
      . The District Court docket reflects that Cor-bin's trial commenced on June 6, 2011. Cor-bin is represented by counsel in the criminal proceeding.
     
      
      . We have explained that "a writ of mandamus may appear more appropriate when the request is for an order mandating action, [while] a writ of prohibition may be more accurate when the request is to prohibit action,” but that "modern courts have shown little concern for the technical and historic differences between the two writs.” In re School Asbestos Litigation, 921 F.2d 1310, 1313 (3d Cir.1990). Accordingly, it is of no moment to our analysis here whether Cor-bin’s request is properly characterized as one for mandamus or prohibition, as "the form is less important than the substantive question of whether an extraordinary remedy is available.” Id. (quotation marks and brackets omitted).