Case Name: Mandell RHODES, Jr., Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Sharon KELLER, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Lawrence E. Meyers, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Tom Price, Judge Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Paul Womack, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Cheryl Johnson, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Michael Keasler, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Barbara P. Hervey, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Charles R. Holcomb, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Cathy Cochran, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Defendants-Appellees
Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 2003-10-08
Citations: 77 F. App'x 261
Docket Number: No. 03-50534
Parties: Mandell RHODES, Jr., Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Sharon KELLER, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Lawrence E. Meyers, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Tom Price, Judge Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Paul Womack, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Cheryl Johnson, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Michael Keasler, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Barbara P. Hervey, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Charles R. Holcomb, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Cathy Cochran, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Defendants-Appellees.
Judges: Before BARKSDALE, EMILIO M. GARZA, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.
Reporter: West's Federal Appendix
Volume: 77
Pages: 261–262

Head Matter:
Mandell RHODES, Jr., Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Sharon KELLER, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Lawrence E. Meyers, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Tom Price, Judge Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Paul Womack, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Cheryl Johnson, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Michael Keasler, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Barbara P. Hervey, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Charles R. Holcomb, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals; Cathy Cochran, Judge, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Defendants-Appellees.
No. 03-50534.
Summary Calendar
United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit.
Oct. 8, 2003.
Before BARKSDALE, EMILIO M. GARZA, and DENNIS, Circuit Judges.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Mandell Rhodes, Jr., Texas state prisoner #307498, appeals the district court's dismissal of his 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint as frivolous. He argues that the district court erred in construing his complaint as a petition for mandamus relief because his allegations that the state court judges denied him access to the courts supported a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim.
The district court was within its authority to construe Rhodes' complaint as a petition for a writ of mandamus because Rhodes is merely seeking to have the federal court direct the state court to perform its duties as he wishes. See Moye v. Clerk, DeKalb County Superior Court, 474 F.2d 1275-76 (5th Cir.1973) (holding that district court properly construed motion to direct state court activities as petition for writ of mandamus). Federal courts have no authority "to issue writs of mandamus to direct state courts and their judicial officers in the performance of their duties where mandamus is the only relief sought." Id. at 1276 (citations omitted). Thus, the district court lacked authority to order the state courts to act on Rhodes' state habeas petitions. Id. at 1275-76; see also Santee v. Quinlan, 115 F.3d 355, 356-57 (5th Cir.1997).
Even if Rhodes' complaint should have been treated as a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 complaint, it is without merit because he failed to allege a constitutional denial-of-access-to-the-eourt claim. Brewer v. Wilkinson, 3 F.3d 816, 821 (5th Cir.1993); Crowder v. Sinyard, 884 F.2d 804, 811, 814 (5th Cir. 1989).
The dismissal of Rhodes's action is AFFIRMED.
Pursuant to 5th Cir. R. 47.5, the court has determined that this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except under the limited circumstances set forth in 5th Cir. R. 47.5.4.