Case Title: Matter of Biggins

Citation: 

Docket Number: 131, 2009

State: delaware

Court: Delaware Supreme Court

Date: 2009-06-23T00:00:00Z

Document:
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE 
 
IN THE MATTER OF THE  
 
§ 
PETITION OF JAMES ARTHUR  
§ 
No. 131, 2009 
BIGGINS FOR A WRIT OF    
§ 
 
MANDAMUS. 
 
 
 
§ 
Cr. ID No. 9609015504 
 
 
 
 
 
Submitted: April 2, 2009 
 
 
 
 
 
Decided: 
June 23, 2009 
 
Before STEELE, Chief Justice, HOLLAND and BERGER, Justices.  
 
O R D E R 
 
 
This 23rd day of June 2009, it appears to the Court that: 
 
(1) 
The petitioner, James Arthur Biggins, seeks to invoke this 
Court’s original jurisdiction to issue an extraordinary writ of mandamus to 
compel the Superior Court to consider his motion for postconviction relief 
filed on February 23, 2009.  The State of Delaware has filed an answer and 
motion to dismiss. 
 
(2) 
A writ of mandamus is an extraordinary remedy issued by this 
Court to compel a trial court to perform a duty.1  As a condition precedent to 
the issuance of the writ, the petitioner must demonstrate that (a) he has a 
clear right to the performance of the duty; (b) no other adequate remedy is 
                                          
 
1 In re Bordley, 545 A.2d 619, 620 (Del. 1988). 
 
2
available; and (c) the trial court has arbitrarily failed or refused to perform 
its duty.2 
 
(3) 
A review of the Superior Court docket in Biggins’ case reflects 
that the Superior Court denied Biggins’ motion for postconviction relief on 
April 29, 2009.3  Accordingly, Biggins’ petition for a writ of mandamus is 
moot.  Moreover, Biggins has failed to demonstrate that the Superior Court 
arbitrarily failed or refused to perform a duty owed to him.  As such, 
Biggins’ mandamus petition must be dismissed. 
 
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that Biggins’ petition for a 
writ of mandamus is DISMISSED. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BY THE COURT: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Randy J. Holland 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Justice 
                                          
 
2 Id. 
3 State v. Biggins, Del. Super., Cr. ID No. 9609015504, Graves, J. (Apr. 29, 2009).