Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-ca4-15-01633/USCOURTS-ca4-15-01633-0/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Willie Horton
Petitioner

Document Text:

UNPUBLISHED

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

No. 15-1633

In re: WILLIE HORTON,

Petitioner.

On Petition for Writ of Mandamus. 

(1:89-cr-00180-AJT-1)

Submitted: October 15, 2015 Decided: October 19, 2015

Before WILKINSON, AGEE, and HARRIS, Circuit Judges.

Petition denied by unpublished per curiam opinion.

Willie Horton, Petitioner Pro Se.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.

Appeal: 15-1633 Doc: 12 Filed: 10/19/2015 Pg: 1 of 2
2

PER CURIAM:

Willie Horton petitions for a writ of mandamus seeking an 

order directing the district court to grant relief on his 

underlying post-conviction proceedings. We conclude that Horton 

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 Horton 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 

Appeal: 15-1633 Doc: 12 Filed: 10/19/2015 Pg: 2 of 2