Title: Matter of Foster
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 281, 2001
State: Delaware
Issuer: Delaware Supreme Court
Date: July 27, 2001

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE
IN THE MATTER OF THE
PETITION OF JOHN E. FOSTER
FOR A WRIT OF MANDAMUS.
  No. 281, 2001
Submitted: July 9, 2001
Decided:
July 27, 2001
Before WALSH, HOLLAND and BERGER, Justices.
  
O R D E R
This 27th day of July 2001, the Court has considered the petition for
a writ of mandamus filed by John E. Foster and the answer and motion to
dismiss filed by the State of Delaware, and it appears to the Court that:
(1)
Foster has applied to this Court for a writ of mandamus to be
directed to the Warden of the Multi-Purpose Criminal Justice Facility.
Foster is incarcerated at the Multi-Purpose Criminal Justice Facility,
serving a prison sentence on a number of convictions.1
(2)
In his petition in this Court, Foster alleges that the Warden has
refused to respond to Foster’s written requests for information about a
1998 closed criminal case.  It appears that Foster wants the Warden to
                                                 
1 See State v. Foster, Del. Super., Cr.A.No. IN99-07-1360, Gebelein, J. (April 25,
2001) (sentence); see State v. Foster, Del. Super., Cr.A.No. IN01-02-0402, Toliver, J.
(June 11, 2001) (sentence).
2
explain in writing why, in the 1998 case, Foster was allegedly not released
from prison until December 20, 1998, when the State had nolle prossed the
charges more than 20 days earlier, i.e., on November 17, 1998.2
(3)
 Foster’s petition manifestly fails on its face to invoke the
Court’s original jurisdiction.  “[T]his Court’s original jurisdiction to issue
a writ of mandamus is limited to instances when a respondent is a court or
a judge thereof.”3  The Court’s original jurisdiction to issue a writ of
mandamus does not extend to the Warden of the Multi-Purpose Criminal
Justice Facility, who is a prison official.4
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the State’s motion to
dismiss is GRANTED.  The petition for a writ of mandamus is
DISMISSED.
BY THE COURT:
/s/ Randy J. Holland
Justice
                                                 
2 State v. Foster, Del. Super., Cr.A.No. N98-11-0582.
3 Del. Const. art. IV, § 11(6); In re Hitchens, Del. Supr., 600 A.2d 37, 38 (1991).
4 Id.