Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca4-16-01366/USCOURTS-ca4-16-01366-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Gerald Porter
Petitioner

Document Text:

UNPUBLISHED

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

No. 16-1366

In re: GERALD PORTER,

Petitioner.

On Petition for Writ of Mandamus. (8:15-cv-03584-MGL)

Submitted: September 29, 2016 Decided: October 3, 2016

Before SHEDD, KEENAN, and HARRIS, Circuit Judges.

Petition denied by unpublished per curiam opinion.

Gerald Porter, Petitioner Pro Se.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.

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PER CURIAM:

Gerald Porter petitions for a writ of mandamus seeking an 

order from this court directing the district court to grant 

relief on Porter’s 28 U.S.C. § 2241 (2012) petition. We 

conclude that Porter is not entitled to mandamus relief.

Mandamus relief is a drastic remedy and should be used only 

in extraordinary circumstances. Kerr v. U.S. Dist. Court, 426 

U.S. 394, 402 (1976); United States v. Moussaoui, 333 F.3d 509, 

516-17 (4th Cir. 2003). Further, mandamus relief is available 

only when the petitioner has a clear right to the relief sought. 

In re First Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass’n, 860 F.2d 135, 138 (4th Cir. 

1988). Finally, mandamus may not be used as a substitute for 

appeal. In re Lockheed Martin Corp., 503 F.3d 351, 353 (4th 

Cir. 2007). 

The relief sought by Porter is not available by way of 

mandamus. Accordingly, although we grant leave to proceed in 

forma pauperis, we deny the petition for writ of mandamus. We 

dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal 

contentions are adequately presented in the materials before 

this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

PETITION DENIED

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