Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-casd-3_19-cv-00340/USCOURTS-casd-3_19-cv-00340-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 540
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Mandamus and Other
Cause of Action: 28:1361 Petition for Writ of Mandamus

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

HARVEY E . LARSON, 

Petitioner,

Case No. 19-cv-0340-BAS-RBB

ORDER DENYING PETITION 

FOR A WRIT OF MANDAMUS

[ECF No. 1]

v.

SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE 

OF CALIFORNIA, COUNTY OF 

SAN DIEGO, 

Respondent.

Petitioner Harvey E. Larson (Petitioner), a state prisoner proceeding pro se, has 

filed a Petition for a Writ of Mandamus (Petition) pursuant to California Code of Civil 

Procedure §§ 1085, 1086, et seq. (ECF No. 1.) Petitioner apparently seeks a writ 

from this Court to compel the California Superior Court for the County of San Diego

to grant a motion to disqualify a judge, which that court previously denied. (Id.) The 

Court denies the Petition for lack of jurisdiction and as frivolous.

The statute which specifically addresses jurisdiction over an action in the 

nature of a writ of mandamus does not vest this Court with jurisdiction to issue a writ 

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of mandamus to a state judicial officer. See 28 U.S.C. § 1361 (“The district courts 

shall have original jurisdiction original jurisdiction of any action in the nature of 

mandamus to compel an officer or employee of the United States or any agency 

thereof to perform a duty owed to the plaintiff.”). And although federal courts have 

general authority to issue writs “in aid of their respective jurisdictions,” 28 U.S.C. § 

1651, this authority does not extend to the issuance of writs to compel state courts to 

take a particular action. See Demos v. U.S. District Court, 925 F.2d 1160, 1161−62 

(9th Cir. 1991) (“[T]his court lacks jurisdiction to issue a writ of mandamus to a state 

court. Thus, to the extent that Demos attempts to obtain a writ in this court to compel 

a state court to take or refrain from some action, the petitions are frivolous as a matter 

of law.”). Thus, even if there is some basis for jurisdiction, the Court lacks authority 

to issue the writ of mandamus Petitioner seeks.

Accordingly, the Court DENIES the Petition. The Clerk of the Court shall 

close this case. 

IT IS SO ORDERED.

DATED: February 26, 2019

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