Case Name: IN RE: Sundari K. PRASAD, Petitioner
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2017-11-27
Citations: 704 F. App'x 245
Docket Number: No. 17-1910
Parties: IN RE: Sundari K. PRASAD, Petitioner.
Judges: Before WYNN and THACKER, Circuit Judges, and HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 704
Pages: 245–246

Head Matter:
IN RE: Sundari K. PRASAD, Petitioner.
No. 17-1910
United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit.
Submitted: November 21, 2017
Decided: November 27, 2017
Sundari K. Prasad, Petitioner Pro Se.
Before WYNN and THACKER, Circuit Judges, and HAMILTON, Senior Circuit Judge.

Opinion:
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM:
Sundari K. Prasad petitions for a writ of mandamus seeking an order directing (1) the recusal of two judges of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia; (2) that Prasad be appointed counsel in all of her pending district court cases and transferred to another correctional institution; and (3) the reversal of all prior adverse rulings in her civil actions. 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).
We have reviewed Prasad's petition and conclude that Prasad is not entitled to mandamus relief. First, Prasad has failed to establish the extra-judicial bias necessary for this court to direct the recusal of the identified district court judges from participation in her pending civil actions. See In re Beard, 811 F.2d 818, 826-27 (4th Cir. 1987); see also United States v. Owens, 902 F.2d 1154, 1156 (4th Cir. 1990) ("Parties cannot be allowed to create the basis for recusal by their own deliberate actions. To hold otherwise would encourage inappropriate 'judge shopping.' "). Next, Prasad has not demonstrated her clear entitlement to having counsel appointed in all of her pending civil cases or a transfer to another correctional institution, and 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). Finally, because mandamus may not be used as a substitute for appeal, In re Lockheed Martin Corp., 503 F.3d 351, 353 (4th Cir. 2007), we deny Prasad's request for reversal of all adverse rulings in her civil cases.
For these reasons, we deny the petition for writ of mandamus. We further deny Prasad's motions to consolidate this petition with another pending appeal and to change the style of this case to that of a petition for a writ of prohibition. 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