Case Name: Page PENK, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. The Honorable Donald RUMSFELD, Secretary of Defense, Defendant-Appellee
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2002-05-24
Citations: 35 F. App'x 837
Docket Number: No. 02-1005
Parties: Page PENK, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. The Honorable Donald RUMSFELD, Secretary of Defense, Defendant-Appellee.
Judges: Before TACHA, Chief Judge, EBEL and LUCERO, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 35
Pages: 837–838

Head Matter:
Page PENK, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. The Honorable Donald RUMSFELD, Secretary of Defense, Defendant-Appellee.
No. 02-1005.
United States Court of Appeals, Tenth Circuit.
May 24, 2002.
Before TACHA, Chief Judge, EBEL and LUCERO, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
ORDER AND JUDGMENT
EBEL, Circuit Judge.
On October 10, 2001, Appellant filed an "Emergency Complaint and Motion for Mandamus" before the district court, which the district court sua sponte dismissed for lack of subject matter jurisdiction. We affirm the district court's denial of Appellant's motion.
In his complaint below, Appellant asserted that Secretary Rumsfeld failed to file a report regarding "work" concerning the use of non-lethal weapons during his term of office, and that such a report was required by statute, cited by him as 61 Stat. 343, § 202(b), and a 1997 Executive Order issued by former President Clinton. Plaintiff claims that the statute requires the Secretary of Defense to submit "annual written reports to the president and Congress" on "expenditures, work and accomplishments of the National Military Establishment." ROA 4 (Dist. Ct. Ord. at 1.) The Executive Order Appellant cites, No. 13,045, requires federal agencies to "make it a high priority to identify and assess environmental health risks and safety risks that may disproportionately affect children!)]" 62 Fed.Reg. 19,885 (April 21,1997.)
As noted by the district court, a writ of mandamus is an extraordinary remedy that may only be granted if a petitioner shows that his right to the writ is "clear and indisputable." Weston v. Mann (In re Weston), 18 F.3d 860, 864 (10th Cir.1994). Even if a petitioner meets the strict requirements for mandamus, the issuance of a writ is nevertheless a matter of discretion. See Kerr v. United States Dist. Court, 426 U.S. 394, 403, 96 S.Ct. 2119, 48 L.Ed.2d 725 (1976). Here, as the district court noted, neither the statute alleged by petitioner nor the Executive Order create a cause of action in favor of Appellant. Therefore, we affirm the denial of Appellant's motion for substantially the same reasons as stated by the district court. To the extent that Appellant requests a hearing en banc for his motion for mandamus, that request is also denied, as no member of the panel has requested a poll. See Fed. R.App. Pro. 35(f).
After examining appellant's brief and the appellate record, this panel has determined unanimously that oral argument would not materially assist the determination of this appeal. See Fed. R.App. P. 34(a)(2) and 10th Cir. R. 34.1(G). The case is therefore ordered submitted without oral argument. This Order and Judgment is not binding precedent, except under the doctrines of law of the case, res judicata, and collateral estoppel. The court generally disfavors the citation of orders and judgments; nevertheless, an order and judgment may be cited under the terms and conditions of 10th Cir. R. 36.3.
. Plaintiff does not provide a valid citation for this statute, and neither the district court nor we can find a statute setting forth these requirements. (Dist. Ct. Ord. at 3 n. 1.)
. The Executive Order expressly states: "This order shall not be construed to create any right to judicial review involving compliance or noncompliance with this order by the United States, its agencies, its officers, or any other person." Exec. Order No. 13,045 § 7, 62 Fed.Reg. 19,885 (April 21, 1987).
. On appeal, Appellant filed an "Emergency Motion for En Banc Mandamus to Prevent the Indictment of the Respondent and Other Americans in the Coming International Criminal Court."