Title: Matter of Smith

State: delaware

Issuer: Delaware Supreme Court

Document:

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE 
 
IN THE MATTER OF THE  
 
§ 
PETITION OF FREDERICK W.  
§  No. 340, 2010  
SMITH, JR., FOR A WRIT OF   
§ 
 
MANDAMUS. 
 
 
 
§  C.A. No. N10C-03-234 
 
 
 
 
 
Submitted: June 21, 2010 
 
 
 
 
Decided: 
August 19, 2010 
 
Before STEELE, Chief Justice, HOLLAND and BERGER, Justices. 
 
O R D E R 
 
 
This 19th day of August 2010, it appears to the Court: 
 
(1) 
Frederick W. Smith, Jr., seeks to invoke this Court’s original 
jurisdiction to issue a writ of mandamus to compel the Superior Court to 
conduct a jury trial on his civil complaint.1  The State of Delaware has filed 
an answer requesting that the petition be dismissed. 
 
(2) 
A writ of mandamus is an extraordinary remedy issued by this 
Court to compel a trial court to perform a duty.2  By order dated June 30, 
2010, the Superior Court dismissed Smith’s civil complaint.  Smith’s appeal 
from that order is pending before the Court.3  There is no basis for the 
issuance of a writ of mandamus in this case because that issue is now moot.   
                                          
 
1 Del. Const. art. IV, § 11(5); Del. Supr. Ct. R. 43. 
2 In re Bordley, 545 A.2d 619 (Del. 1988). 
3 Smith v. Salas, Del. Supr., No. 438, 2010. 
 
2
 
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that Smith’s petition for a 
writ of mandamus is DISMISSED. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
BY THE COURT: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Randy J. Holland 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Justice