Court Opinion

ID: 4212967
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-10-19 17:00:35.06183+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:41:09.386545
License: Public Domain

ELD-005                                                         NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                       UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                            FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                 ___________

                                       No. 17-2590
                                       ___________

                           IN RE: FREDERICK H. BANKS,
                                                Petitioner
                       ____________________________________

                     On a Petition for Writ of Mandamus from the
          United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
                     (Related to W.D. Pa. No. 2-15-cr-00168-001)
                      ____________________________________

                     Submitted Pursuant to Rule 21, Fed. R. App. P.
                                   October 12, 2017

           Before: JORDAN, GREENBERG and NYGAARD, Circuit Judges

                            (Opinion filed: October 19, 2017)
                                       _________

                                        OPINION*
                                        _________

PER CURIAM

       Frederick Banks has filed a petition for a writ of mandamus. For the reasons

below, we will deny the petition.

       In August 2015, Banks was charged in the District Court for the Western District

of Pennsylvania with one count of interstate stalking. In January 2016, he was charged

*
 This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7 does not
constitute binding precedent.
by a superseding indictment with aggravated identity theft, making false statements, and

wire fraud. The criminal proceedings have been delayed while Banks’s competency is

being evaluated. In his mandamus petition, Banks requests that we (1) order the U.S.

Attorney to conduct a criminal investigation; (2) remove defense counsel, the Assistant

United States Attorneys, and the District Judge from his criminal case and from public

office; (3) discharge him from confinement; and (4) award damages of $855,000,000.

       The writ of mandamus will issue only in extraordinary circumstances. See Sporck

v. Peil, 759 F.2d 312, 314 (3d Cir. 1985). As a precondition to the issuance of the writ,

Banks must establish that there is no alternative remedy or other adequate means to

obtain the desired relief and must demonstrate a clear and indisputable right to the relief

sought. Kerr v. U.S. Dist. Court, 426 U.S. 394, 403 (1976).

       With respect to Banks’s request that we order the U.S. Attorney to conduct an

investigation, he has no clear and indisputable right to such relief. An individual has no

federal right to require the government to initiate criminal proceedings. See Linda R.S. v.

Richard D., 410 U.S. 614, 619 (1973); see also United States v. Berrigan, 482 F.2d 171,

173-74 (3d Cir. 1973) (Government is permitted some selectivity in its enforcement of

criminal laws).

       Banks argues that the District Judge and attorneys involved in his criminal case

should be removed because they have delayed the proceedings. These allegations do not

create a clear and indisputable right to have the attorneys and District Judge removed

from his criminal case or from public office. See 28 U.S.C. § 455 (judge must disqualify
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himself if his impartiality might reasonably be questioned); United States v. Whitaker,

268 F.3d 185, 193-94 (3d Cir. 2001) (United States’ right to counsel of choice must be

balanced with proper considerations of judicial administration). Moreover, as for defense

counsel, Banks has the alternate remedy of filing a motion to have defense counsel

removed. In fact, he filed such a motion, which the District Court denied without

prejudice to refiling once the competency issue is resolved.

       With respect to Banks’s request for release, he has the alternate remedy of filing a

motion for release in his criminal case. In fact, a motion for release on bond was filed

and argued by Banks’s defense counsel and is pending before the District Court. As to

Banks’s request for money damages, he has the alternate remedy of filing a civil action

after complying with the filing restrictions the District Court has placed on him and any

other procedural prerequisites. See Order, Banks v. Pope Francis, et al., Civ. No. 15-

1400, (W.D. Pa. Dec. 8, 2015); Heck v. Humphrey, 512 U.S. 477, 486-87 (1994) (to

recover damages for allegedly wrongful imprisonment, plaintiff must demonstrate that

the confinement has been found unlawful).

       Banks also requests that we order the District Court to “get the case moving.” As

a general rule, the manner in which a court disposes of cases on its docket is within its

discretion. See In re Fine Paper Antitrust Litig., 685 F.2d 810, 817 (3d Cir. 1982).

Nonetheless, mandamus may be warranted where a District Court’s delay is tantamount

to a failure to exercise jurisdiction. See Madden v. Myers, 102 F.3d 74, 79 (3d Cir.

1996). While Banks’s frustration at the delay in the competency proceedings may be
                                             3
understandable, we are confident that the District Court will act promptly in determining

whether Banks is competent to stand trial.

       On the issue of delay, the petition is denied without prejudice to refiling if the

District Court does not take any further action on the competency issue within sixty days.

With respect to Banks’s other requests, the petition is denied.

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