Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca4-10-01368/USCOURTS-ca4-10-01368-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Mary Estelle Johnson
Petitioner

Document Text:

UNPUBLISHED

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

No. 10-1368

In Re: MARY ESTELLE JOHNSON,

Petitioner. 

On Petition for Writ of Mandamus. (1:08-cr-00076-RDB-4)

Submitted: April 30, 2010 Decided: May 20, 2010

Before KING, GREGORY, and DAVIS, Circuit Judges.

Petition denied by unpublished per curiam opinion.

Mary Estelle Johnson, Petitioner Pro Se.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.

Appeal: 10-1368 Doc: 7 Filed: 05/20/2010 Pg: 1 of 2
2

PER CURIAM:

Mary Estelle Johnson petitions for a writ of mandamus 

seeking an order compelling the district court to sentence her 

to home confinement. We conclude that Johnson is not entitled 

to mandamus relief.

Mandamus relief is a drastic remedy and should be used 

only in extraordinary circumstances. Kerr v. United States 

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). 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 Johnson 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 the 

court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

 

PETITION DENIED

Appeal: 10-1368 Doc: 7 Filed: 05/20/2010 Pg: 2 of 2