Opinion ID: 326118
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Absence of Jurisdiction Under Section 1361.

Text: 5 The legislative history of section 1361 reveals that the statute's construction turns upon traditional mandamus law. 7 As an extraordinary remedy, mandamus is reserved for extraordinary situations. Will v. United States, 389 U.S. 90, 107, 88 S.Ct. 269, 19 L.Ed.2d 305 (1967) (common law writ of mandamus issued by court of appeals vacated); Carter v. Seamans, 411 F.2d 767, 773 (5th Cir. 1969), cert. denied, 397 U.S. 941, 90 S.Ct. 953, 25 L.Ed.2d 121 (1970) (action in nature of mandamus under section 1361 dismissed). It lies only to compel the performance of a legal duty which is free of doubt. State Highway Comm'n v. Volpe, 479 F.2d 1099, 1104 n. 6 (8th Cir. 1973). 6 This court discussed the federal mandamus statute at some length in Carter v. Seamans, supra. 7 The courts that have construed Section 1361 have uniformly held that its sole function was merely to extend to all district courts the mandamus jurisdiction formerly exercised only by the District Court for the District of Columbia. The same authorities also emphasize that the provision in question did not make any substantive change in the law of mandamus. 8 It is hornbook law that mandamus is an extraordinary remedy which should be utilized only in the clearest and most compelling of cases. Though it is a legal remedy, it is largely controlled by equitable principles and its issuance is a matter of judicial discretion. Generally speaking, before the writ of mandamus may properly issue three elements must coexist: (1) a clear right in the plaintiff to the relief sought; (2) a clear duty on the part of the defendant to do the act in question; and (3) no other adequate remedy available. 9 411 F.2d at 773 (footnotes omitted). 10 We do not believe that the defendants herein are under a clear duty to declare Mrs. Winningham eligible under the rent supplement program. We recognize that some courts have construed section 1361 liberally where a constitutional duty is asserted. See Burnett v. Tolson, 474 F.2d 877, 882 (4th Cir. 1973); National Ass'n of Government Employees v. White, 135 U.S.App.D.C. 290, 418 F.2d 1126, 1129 (1969). We are unaware of any case in which an alleged constitutional duty has been held sufficiently clear to warrant the exercise of mandamus jurisdiction where a specific statutory provision negates that duty. 11 In the present case, no doubt exists that Mrs. Winningham is ineligible for a rent supplement under section 101(c)(2)(D). The defendants' statutory duty to deny eligibility is clear. Nonetheless, Mrs. Winningham essentially asks this court to find a clear constitutional duty on the part of the defendants to ignore their statutory mandate. This we may not do. 12 Mrs. Winningham's constitutional claim is grounded in the equal protection component of the due process clause of the fifth amendment. She asserts that, unless she receives a rent supplement, she will be forced to relocate in substandard housing. Therefore, she maintains, no rational basis exists for classifying her differently from those presently residing in substandard housing or from those who moved into section 236 housing from substandard housing. As we indicate later in our discussion of the merits of this action, the clarity of the constitutional duty urged by Mrs. Winningham is not apparent to us. We therefore hold that section 1361 does not provide a jurisdictional basis for this action. 13