Case Name: In re Rickey A. MERICA, Petitioner
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2010-06-24
Citations: 384 F. App'x 266
Docket Number: No. 10-1148
Parties: In re Rickey A. MERICA, Petitioner.
Judges: Before MOTZ and KING, Circuit Judges, and HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 384
Pages: 266–266

Head Matter:
In re Rickey A. MERICA, Petitioner.
No. 10-1148.
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
Submitted: June 17, 2010.
Decided: June 24, 2010.
Rickey A. Merica, Petitioner Pro Se.
Before MOTZ and KING, Circuit Judges, and HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.

Opinion:
Petition denied by unpublished PER CURIAM opinion.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM:
Rickey A. Merica petitions for a writ of mandamus seeking an order compelling the district court to release grand jury transcripts.
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).
Merica does not have a clear right to the grand jury transcripts he seeks, nor does this case involve extraordinary circumstances. 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.