Case Name: In re Thomas Franklin CROSS, Jr., Petitioner
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2015-12-17
Citations: 626 F. App'x 56
Docket Number: No. 15-1917
Parties: In re Thomas Franklin CROSS, Jr., Petitioner.
Judges: Before GREGORY and FLOYD, Circuit Judges, and DAVIS, Senior Circuit Judge.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 626
Pages: 56–56

Head Matter:
In re Thomas Franklin CROSS, Jr., Petitioner.
No. 15-1917.
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
Submitted: Dec. 15, 2015.
Decided: Dec. 17, 2015.
Thomas Franklin Cross, Jr., Petitioner pro se.
Before GREGORY and FLOYD, Circuit Judges, and DAVIS, Senior Circuit Judge.

Opinion:
Petition denied by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM:
Thomas Franklin Cross, Jr., petitions for a writ of mandamus seeking an order directing the district court to order a state court judge to hold an evidentiary hearing. We conclude that Cross 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, 96 S.Ct. 2119, 48 L.Ed.2d 725 (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).
The relief sought by Cross is not available by way of mandamus. Accordingly, although we grant leave to proceed in for-ma 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.