Title: Matter of Bass
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 639, 2002
State: Delaware
Issuer: Delaware Supreme Court
Date: December 19, 2002

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE 
 
IN THE MATTER OF THE  
 
§ 
PETITION OF ALAN BASS 
 
§  No. 639, 2002 
FOR A WRIT OF PROHIBITION 
§ 
 
Submitted: December 2, 2002 
  Decided: December 19, 2002 
 
Before VEASEY, Chief Justice, BERGER, and STEELE, Justices. 
 
 
O R D E R 
 
This 19th day of December 2002, upon consideration of the petition of Alan 
Bass for a writ of prohibition, as well as the State’s answer and motion to dismiss, it 
appears to the Court that: 
(1) 
The petitioner, Alan Bass, seeks to invoke the original jurisdiction 
of this Court by requesting a writ of prohibition be issued to the Superior Court. 
Bass contends that the Superior Court lacked jurisdiction to try, convict, and 
sentence him.  The State has filed a motion to dismiss on the ground that Bass’ 
petition is untimely.  We agree. 
(2) 
Bass was convicted in 1983 of numerous felonies, including rape, 
robbery, burglary, and kidnapping.  The Superior Court sentenced him to five 
consecutive life terms of imprisonment plus an additional 45 years.  This Court 
affirmed Bass’ convictions and sentences on direct appeal.1  In the decades 
                                                           
1 Bass v. State, Del. Supr., No. 14, 1984, Horsey, J. (Sept. 20, 1985). 
 
 
-2- 
following his conviction, Bass has filed several unsuccessful postconviction 
petitions.   
(3) 
This Court has authority to issue a writ of prohibition to prevent a 
court in this State from exceeding the limits of its jurisdiction in either a civil or 
criminal proceeding and is designed primarily to keep the administration of 
justice in orderly channels.2  In this case, Bass was tried and convicted nearly 
two decades ago.  Bass’ petition to prevent criminal proceedings against him in 
the Superior Court simply comes too late and, therefore, must be dismissed.3  
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the motion to dismiss is 
GRANTED.  The petition for a writ of prohibition is DISMISSED. 
BY THE COURT: 
 
_/s/ Myron T. Steele_______________ 
Justice 
                                                           
2 In re Hovey, 545 A.2d 626, 628 (Del. 1988). 
3 See Black v. State, Del. Supr., No. 353, 2002, Holland, J. (Oct. 26, 2000).