Case Title: Matter of Epperson

Citation: 

Docket Number: 263, 2006

State: delaware

Court: Delaware Supreme Court

Date: 2006-06-20T00:00:00Z

Document:
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE 
 
IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION 
OF KEVIN EPPERSON FOR A WRIT 
OF MANDAMUS 
§ 
§  No. 263, 2006 
§ 
 
Submitted: June 15, 2006 
  Decided: June 20, 2005 
 
Before HOLLAND, BERGER, and JACOBS, Justices. 
 
 
O R D E R 
 
This 20th day of June 2006, it appears to the Court that: 
(1) 
The petitioner, Kevin Epperson, seeks to invoke this Court’s 
original jurisdiction by requesting the issuance of a writ of mandamus.  
Although his petition is not entirely clear, Epperson appears to request this 
Court to issue a writ of mandamus to the Department of Correction to compel 
his placement in a different housing unit within the prison.  The State of 
Delaware has filed a motion to dismiss Epperson’s petition on the ground that it 
is frivolous and fails to state a claim for mandamus relief.  
(2) 
We agree.  The original jurisdiction of this Court to issue an 
extraordinary writ of mandamus is limited to instances when the respondent is a 
court or judge thereof.1  Accordingly, this Court does not have original 
jurisdiction to order the Department of Correction to take action in Epperson’s 
case.      
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the petition for a writ of 
mandamus is DISMISSED.   
BY THE COURT: 
 
/s/ Carolyn Berger 
Justice 
                                                                                                                                                                                 
1 In re Hitchens, 600 A.2d 37, 38 (Del. 1991).