Court Opinion

ID: 4279149
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2018-05-29 19:00:32.509884+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:44:52.400381
License: Public Domain

UNPUBLISHED

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                           FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

                                       No. 18-1071

In re: DAVID LEE SMITH,

             Petitioner.

              On Petition for Writ of Mandamus. (No. 5:03-ct-00688-BO)

Submitted: May 24, 2018                                           Decided: May 29, 2018

Before NIEMEYER, MOTZ, and FLOYD, Circuit Judges.

Petition denied by unpublished per curiam opinion.

David Lee Smith, Petitioner Pro Se.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM:

       David Lee Smith petitions for a writ of mandamus seeking an order directing the

district court to vacate its September 25, 2003, order dismissing his 42 U.S.C. § 1983

(2012) action as frivolous, construe the § 1983 complaint liberally, and declare that the

North Carolina habitual felon statute is unconstitutional. We conclude that Smith is not

entitled to mandamus relief.

       Mandamus relief is a drastic remedy and should be used only in extraordinary

circumstances. Kerr v. U.S. Dist. Court, 426 U.S. 394, 402 (1976); United States v.

Moussaoui, 333 F.3d 509, 516-17 (4th Cir. 2003). Further, mandamus relief is available

only when the petitioner has a clear right to the relief sought. In re First Fed. Sav. &

Loan Ass’n, 860 F.2d 135, 138 (4th Cir. 1988). Mandamus may not be used as a

substitute for appeal. In re Lockheed Martin Corp., 503 F.3d 351, 353 (4th Cir. 2007).

Further, this court does not have jurisdiction to grant mandamus relief against state

officials, Gurley v. Superior Court of Mecklenburg Cty., 411 F.2d 586, 587 (4th Cir.

1969), and does not have jurisdiction to review final state court orders, Dist. of Columbia

Court of Appeals v. Feldman, 460 U.S. 462, 482 (1983).

       The relief sought by Smith is not available by way of mandamus. Accordingly,

although we grant leave to proceed in forma pauperis, we deny the petition for writ of

mandamus. We deny all Smith’s pending motions including his motions to amend and

vacate our February 21, 2018, order. We dispense with oral argument because the facts

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and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and

argument would not aid the decisional process.

                                                                 PETITION DENIED

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