Court Opinion

ID: 808505
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2012-09-14 16:20:26+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:00:30.384754
License: Public Domain

GLD-272                                                   NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                        UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                             FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                  ___________

                                        No. 12-2760
                                        ___________

                             IN RE: JEROME BLYDEN,
                                                 Petitioner
                       ____________________________________

                       On a Petition for Writ of Mandamus from the
                            District Court of the Virgin Islands
                                  (Related to 09-cr-00020)
                       ____________________________________

                      Submitted Pursuant to Rule 21, Fed. R. App. P.
                                    August 30, 2012

         Before: FUENTES, GREENAWAY, JR., and BARRY, Circuit Judges

                            (Opinion filed: September 14, 2012)

                                         _________

                                         OPINION
                                         _________

PER CURIAM

       Jerome Blyden has filed a petition for a writ of mandamus, seeking to have us

order the District Court of the Virgin Islands to rule on a number of motions that he filed

in that Court in connection with his criminal case. We will deny the petition.

       A writ of mandamus is an extraordinary remedy. Kerr v. U.S. Dist Ct., 426 U.S.

394, 402 (1976). Within the discretion of the issuing court, mandamus traditionally may

be “used . . . only ‘to confine an inferior court to a lawful exercise of its prescribed
jurisdiction or to compel it to exercise its authority when it is its duty to do so.’” Id.

(citations omitted). A petitioner must show “no other adequate means to attain the

desired relief, and . . . a right to the writ [that] is clear and indisputable.’” In re

Patenaude, 210 F.3d 135, 141 (3d Cir. 2000) (citation omitted). Blyden has not made this

showing.

       We will divide the “unresolved” motions Blyden lists in his petition into three

categories: (1) pretrial motions (other than those involving visitation or custody);

(2) motions involving visitation or custody, and those seeking relief pending sentencing

or appeal; and (3) motions filed after his direct appeal had concluded. We will first

consider the pretrial motions. A number of the filings that Blyden characterizes as

needing “resolution” actually required no action on the part of the District Court, as they

were “notices,” rather than “motions,” and they sought no relief from the District Court.

See, e.g., District Court docket numbers (“dkt. #”) 74, 76, 144, 147. It appears that some

of the motions that Blyden believes are unresolved were in fact resolved by the District

Court. 1 Mandamus is not appropriate as to the “Notices” and the resolved motions, as

Blyden cannot show a right to relief where no relief is needed. As to the remaining

pretrial motions mentioned by Blyden, the District Court may have ruled on a number of

1
 For example, Blyden states that the “Application and Checklist for Speedy Trial filed on
July 31, 2009” needs resolution, but an order concerning Blyden’s “Application and
Checklist for Speedy Trial Extension” shows that Blyden’s motion, apparently seeking an
extension of time to try the case, was granted. It appears that the motion docketed at
#225, which Blyden characterizes as seeking release of Brady materials, was mis-
captioned on the District Court docket. The motion, filed by Blyden’s attorney, seeks
permission to withdraw as Blyden’s retained counsel, and to instead be appointed by the
District Court as counsel for Blyden. The motion was granted. See dkt. #281.
                                                2
them orally. See, e.g., Dkt. #349 (minute entry). To the extent some pretrial motions

were not explicitly ruled on by the District Court, Blyden had the opportunity to explain

on appeal how he was prejudiced by their nonresolution. Because Blyden had an

adequate means to address any unresolved pretrial motions, mandamus cannot be granted

as to the pretrial motions. 2

       Blyden complains that a number of matters concerning his detention and rights to

visitation are unresolved: (1) two appeals from a magistrate judge’s orders regarding

pretrial detention and visitation, see dkt. ## 112, 113; (2) another motion for release from

pretrial detention, see dkt. #313; (3) a motion for release pending sentencing, see dkt.

#414; and (4) a motion for release on bail pending appeal, see dkt. #459. Because Blyden

is now in detention as a result of his conviction (and unsuccessful appeal), these motions

are all moot. Murphy v. Hunt, 455 U.S. 478, 484 (1982) (motion for pretrial bail was

moot once movant was convicted); North Carolina v. Rice, 404 U.S. 244, 246 (1971)

(federal courts cannot “decide questions that cannot affect the rights of litigants in the

case before them”). 3

       The remaining three motions mentioned by Blyden were filed after his appeal had

concluded: (1) “Defendant’s Motion to Vacate Judgment with Points and Authorities,”

2
  Blyden also complains that his post-trial “Motion to Correct Sentence,” dkt. #455, filed
pro se in the District Court during the pendency of his appeal, remains undecided. Like
the pretrial motions, the arguments in this motion could have raised in his direct appeal;
thus, mandamus cannot be granted as to this motion.
3
  His motion to “Stay Financial Conditions of Sentence” pending appeal, dkt. #450, is
also moot, given that the appeal has been resolved.

                                              3
dkt. #484; (2) “Re-newed Motion to Permit Inspection of Records of Grand Jury

Proceedings and to Compel Production of Grand Jury Materials with Points and

Authorities,” dkt. #485; and (3) “Motion to Withdraw Appointed Counsel of Record,”

dkt. #486 (emphasis in original). The docket also contains a memorandum and an

affidavit in support of the motion to withdraw counsel, and the Government’s reply to the

latter two motions. These three motions have been pending on the District Court docket

about four to five months. An appellate court may issue a writ of mandamus on the

ground that undue delay is tantamount to a failure to exercise jurisdiction. Madden v.

Myers, 102 F.3d 74, 79 (3d Cir. 1996). Although the four-to-five month delay is of some

concern, the delay “does not yet rise to the level of a denial of due process.” Id.

(addressing delay of similar length). We are confident that the District Court will rule on

the pending motions without undue delay after any appropriate notice is given and the

time to respond has run. 4 Thus, there is no need for this Court to compel the District

Court to exercise its authority. Roche v. Evaporated Milk Ass’n, 319 U.S. 21, 26 (1943).

        For the foregoing reasons, the petition for a writ of mandamus is denied. 5

4
  We express no opinion as to the propriety or merit of the pending motions. It appears
that Blyden may be attempting to file a motion to vacate his sentence pursuant to 28
U.S.C. § 2255. If so, the District Court will send Blyden the appropriate notice pursuant
to United States v. Miller, 197 F.3d 644, 652 (3d Cir. 1999).
5
    Blyden’s motion to proceed on the original record is denied as moot.
                                              4