Title: Matter of Johnson
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 201, 2005
State: Delaware
Issuer: Delaware Supreme Court
Date: June 6, 2005

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE 
 
IN THE MATTER OF THE  
 
§  
PETITION OF RONALD G.   
§  No. 201, 2005 
JOHNSON FOR WRITS OF   
§ 
HABEAS CORPUS, MANDAMUS, § 
AND PROHIBITION 
 
 
§ 
 
Submitted: June 2, 2005 
   Decided: June 6, 2005 
 
Before STEELE, Chief Justice, HOLLAND, and JACOBS, Justices. 
 
 
O R D E R 
 
This 6th day of June 2005, upon consideration of Ronald Johnson’s 
petition for writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, and/or prohibition, as well as 
the State’s response in opposition, it appears to the Court that: 
(1) 
Johnson was arrested on April 16, 2005 on numerous criminal 
charges.  A grand jury indicted him on May 31, 2005 on nine charges, 
including several counts of offensive touching, resisting arrest, and weapon 
offenses.  He currently is scheduled for arraignment in the Superior Court on 
June 7, 2005. 
(2) 
Johnson filed his present petition asserting that his detention is 
illegal because there was no valid warrant issued for his arrest.  Johnson 
requests this Court to order his release from detention, to dismiss the charges 
against him, and to prohibit the State from prosecuting him further.  The 
 
2
State has moved to dismiss Johnson’s petition on the ground that this Court 
lacks original jurisdiction to order the requested relief. 
(3) 
We agree.  This Court has no original jurisdiction to issue a writ 
of habeas corpus.1  Furthermore, a writ of mandamus is inappropriate to 
challenge the legality of Johnson’s arrest and indictment, which are issues 
that are properly reviewable on appeal.2  Moreover, a writ of prohibition is 
not warranted because there is no clear and convincing evidence that the 
Superior Court lacks jurisdiction over Johnson.3   
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that Johnson’s petition is 
hereby DISMISSED. 
BY THE COURT: 
 
/s/ Myron T. Steele 
Chief Justice 
 
 
 
                                                 
1 In re Cantrell, 678 A.2d 525, 526 (Del. 1996); Rocker v. State, 240 A.2d 141, 
142 (Del. 1968); DEL. CODE ANN. tit. 10, § 6901. 
2 Rogers v. State, 457 A.2d 727, 731 (Del. 1983). 
3 In re Hovey, 545 A.2d 626, 629 (Del. 1988).