Title: Matter of Banther
Citation: N/A
Docket Number: 249, 2011
State: Delaware
Issuer: Delaware Supreme Court
Date: August 16, 2011

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE 
 
IN THE MATTER OF THE 
 
§ 
PETITION OF BRUCE R.  
 
§ 
No. 249, 2011 
BANTHER FOR A WRIT OF  
§ 
PROHIBITION. 
 
 
 
§  
Cr. ID No. 9705000270  
 
 
 
Submitted: May 25, 2011 
Decided:  
August 16, 2011 
 
Before STEELE, Chief Justice, HOLLAND and JACOBS, Justices. 
 
O R D E R 
 
This 16th day of August 2011, upon consideration of the pro se 
petition for a writ of prohibition filed by Bruce R. Banther and the answer 
and motion to dismiss filed by the State of Delaware, it appears to the Court 
that: 
(1) 
In 2008, Bruce R. Banther was convicted of Murder in the First 
Degree and Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a 
Felony.  Banther’s convictions were affirmed on appeal.1 
(2) 
The Court has the authority to issue a writ of prohibition to 
prevent a court in this State from exceeding the limits of its jurisdiction.2  In 
this case, Banther has been tried and convicted.  Consequently, Banther’s 
                                            
1 Banther v. State, 977 A.2d 870 (Del. 2009).  It appears from the Superior Court docket 
that Banther’s pro se motion for postconviction relief is pending in the Superior Court.  
See docket at 419, State v. Banther, Del. Super., Cr. ID No. 9705000270 (July 18, 2011) 
(filing of defendant’s reply brief to State’s response to motion for postconviction relief). 
2 See In re Biggins, 2003 WL 1857525 (Del. Supr.) (citing In re Hovey, 545 A.2d 626, 
628 (Del. 1988)). 
2 
 
petition for a writ of prohibition to prevent criminal proceedings against him 
simply comes too late and must be dismissed.3  
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED, that the State’s motion to 
dismiss is GRANTED.  The petition for a writ of prohibition is 
DISMISSED. 
 
 
 
 
 
BY THE COURT: 
 
 
 
 
 
/s/ Jack B. Jacobs  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
        Justice  
 
                                            
3 Id.