Court Opinion

ID: 2781621
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-02-24 20:01:01.27598+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:12:54.451898
License: Public Domain

Case: 14-10781   Date Filed: 02/24/2015   Page: 1 of 4

                                                           [DO NOT PUBLISH]

              IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

                       FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT
                         ________________________

                               No. 14-10781
                           Non-Argument Calendar
                         ________________________

                  D.C. Docket No. 5:13-cv-00078-MTT-CHW

CLEVELAND HANKERSON,

                                                             Plaintiff-Appellant,

                                      versus

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
Department of Parole and Probation,

                                                            Defendant-Appellee.

                         ________________________

                  Appeal from the United States District Court
                      for the Middle District of Georgia
                        ________________________

                              (February 24, 2015)

Before MARCUS, WILLIAM PRYOR, and ANDERSON, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:
               Case: 14-10781    Date Filed: 02/24/2015   Page: 2 of 4

      Cleveland Hankerson, a federal prisoner proceeding pro se, appeals the

district court’s dismissal of his mandamus petition, filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C.

§ 1361, which sought to compel the U.S. Probation Office to respond to his request

to amend his 1992 presentence investigation report (PSI). On appeal, Hankerson

argues that the district court erred in dismissing his mandamus petition because the

Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C. § 522a(g)(1), provides him with a civil remedy against the

Probation Office. He also argues that the sentencing court used allegedly

inaccurate information in the PSI to impose an unwarranted career offender

enhancement.

      We review a district court’s refusal to issue a writ of mandamus for abuse of

discretion. In re Stewart, 641 F.3d 1271, 1275 (11th Cir. 2011). In the case of a

pro se action, we will construe the petition more liberally than we would formal

pleadings drafted by attorneys. Powell v. Lennon, 914 F.2d 1459, 1463 (11th Cir.

1990).

      Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1361, federal courts have jurisdiction over

mandamus actions seeking “to compel an officer or employee of the United States

or any agency thereof to perform a duty owed to the plaintiff.” 28 U.S.C. § 1361.

However, mandamus relief is “an extraordinary remedy which should be utilized

only in the clearest and most compelling of cases.” Cash v. Barnhart, 327 F.3d
1252, 1257 (11th Cir. 2003). Thus, a writ of mandamus is only appropriate if the

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                Case: 14-10781    Date Filed: 02/24/2015    Page: 3 of 4

petitioner demonstrates that: (1) he has a clear right to the relief requested; (2) the

respondent has a clear duty to act; and (3) no other adequate remedy is available.

Cash, 327 F.3d at 1258.

      In certain circumstances, the Privacy Act allows an individual to bring a

civil action against a government agency if that agency refuses to correct

inaccurate information in its records. See 5 U.S.C. § 552a(g)(1). However, this

private right of action only applies to federal agencies. Schwier v. Cox, 340 F.3d
1284, 1287 (11th Cir. 2003). The definition of “agency” does not include “the

courts of the United States.” 5 U.S.C. § 551(1)(B). Because the Probation Office

acts as a liaison between the sentencing court and the defendant, it serves as “an

arm of the court.” United States v. Bernardine, 237 F.3d 1279, 1283 (11th Cir.

2001).

      Although we have not squarely addressed whether the Probation Office is

exempt from the Privacy Act, it is clear that § 551(1)(B) exempts court documents

and reports from disclosure under the Privacy Act and FOIA. See Lovell v.

Alderete, 630 F.2d 428, 434 (5th Cir. 1980) (holding that a parole recommendation

report was exempt from FOIA due to the exception for federal courts in

§ 551(1)(B)).

      Therefore, the district court did not abuse its discretion by dismissing

Hankerson’s mandamus petition. Hankerson has not demonstrated a clear right to

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              Case: 14-10781     Date Filed: 02/24/2015   Page: 4 of 4

relief against the Probation Office because, by definition, the Privacy Act only

applies to federal agencies, not to federal courts. See 5 U.S.C. §§ 551(1)(B),

552a(g)(1). Furthermore, Hankerson could have asserted his Privacy Act claim in

a civil action under 5 U.S.C. § 552a(g)(1), and his arguments related to his

sentence could have been brought on direct appeal or in an earlier 28 U.S.C.

§ 2255 motion. As such, Hankerson has not demonstrated a clear right to relief,

and, even if he has, there were adequate remedies other than mandamus available.

Accordingly, mandamus relief was not appropriate, and the district court did not

err in dismissing his mandamus petition.

      Upon review of the record and consideration of the parties’ briefs, we

affirm.

      AFFIRMED.

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