Opinion ID: 4692329
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Standard for Issuance of Writ of Mandamus

Text: This Court has consistently held that “[m]andamus is a proper remedy to require the performance of a nondiscretionary duty by various governmental agencies or bodies.” Syl. Pt. 1, State ex rel. Allstate Ins. Co. v. Union Pub. Serv. Dist., 151 W. Va. 207, 151 S.E.2d 102 (1966). Generally, [a] writ of mandamus will not issue unless three elements coexist - (1) a clear legal right in the petitioner to the relief sought; (2) a legal duty on the part of respondent to do the thing which the petitioner seeks to compel; and (3) the absence of another adequate remedy. Syl. Pt. 2, State ex rel. Kucera v. City of Wheeling, 153 W. Va. 538, 170 S.E.2d 367 (1969). In matters affecting the right to political office, this Court has recognized that “[i]n West Virginia a special form of mandamus exists to test the eligibility to office of a candidate in either [a] primary or general election.” Syl. Pt. 5, in part, State ex rel. Maloney v. McCartney, 159 W. Va. 513, 223 S.E.2d 607 (1976), appeal dismissed sub nom. Moore v. McCartney, 425 U.S. 946 (1976). In election-related mandamus cases, “[b]ecause there is an important public policy interest in determining the qualifications of candidates in advance of an election, this Court does not hold an election mandamus proceeding to the same degree of procedural rigor as an ordinary mandamus case.” Syl. Pt. 2, State ex rel. Bromelow v. Daniel, 163 W. Va. 532, 258 S.E.2d 119 (1979). For this reason, this Court has eased the requirements for strict compliance with the preconditions to issuance of a writ, especially those relating to the availability of another remedy. See 6 Sowards v. Cnty. Comm’n of Lincoln Cnty., 196 W. Va. 739, 745, 474 S.E.2d 919, 925 (1996) (citations omitted). Applying the foregoing principles to the facts of this case, we view the vacancy in the Nineteenth Delegate District resulting from the newly elected Delegate’s resignation as properly the subject of an expedited writ of mandamus proceeding.