Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca4-19-02175/USCOURTS-ca4-19-02175-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Raphael Mendez
Petitioner

Document Text:

UNPUBLISHED

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

No. 19-2175

In re: RAPHAEL MENDEZ,

Petitioner.

On Petition for Writ of Mandamus. (5:91-hc-00350-BR)

Submitted: January 23, 2020 Decided: January 27, 2020

Before WYNN, DIAZ, and RICHARDSON, Circuit Judges.

Petition denied by unpublished per curiam opinion.

Raphael Mendez, Petitioner Pro Se. 

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.

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PER CURIAM:

Raphael Mendez petitions for a writ of mandamus seeking an order directing Senior 

Judge Britt to recuse himself. We conclude that Mendez 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 Murphy-Brown, LLC, 

907 F.3d 788, 795 (4th Cir. 2018).

Mendez fails to show that he has a clear right to the relief sought. 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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