Court Opinion

ID: 4150428
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2017-03-06 18:00:42.683278+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:46:31.897509
License: Public Domain

DLD-142                                                        NOT PRECEDENTIAL

                        UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                             FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
                                  ___________

                                       No. 17-1218
                                       ___________

                          IN RE: MICHAEL J. PENDLETON,
                                                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. 3-16-cv-00258)
                        ____________________________________

                      Submitted Pursuant to Rule 21, Fed. R. App. P.
                                   February 23, 2017
             Before: CHAGARES, VANASKIE and KRAUSE, Circuit Judges

                              (Opinion filed: March 6, 2017)
                                        _________

                                        OPINION*
                                        _________

PER CURIAM

       Pro se petitioner Michael J. Pendleton has filed a petition for a writ of mandamus

requesting that we compel the District Court to “correctly dispose of” a 28 U.S.C. § 2241

petition, such that Pendleton would be immediately released from custody based upon

actual innocence. For the reasons set forth below, we will deny Pendleton’s mandamus

petition.

*
 This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7 does not
constitute binding precedent.
       Pendleton was sentenced to life and 10 to 20 years (to run concurrently) for second

degree murder and conspiracy by the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas on May 4,

1999. He filed a § 2254 habeas corpus petition in the District Court in October 2002.

That petition and a certificate of appealability were denied by the District Court in

November 2003. A certificate of appealability was then denied by this Court in June

2004. See C.A. No. 03-4792. Pendleton then filed a request for leave to file a second or

successive habeas petition (containing his argument based on the Allegheny County

Coroner’s Office). We denied that request in November 2010. See C.A. No. 10-4072.

       Pendleton filed a § 2241 habeas corpus petition in the District Court in December

2016. On January 12, 2017, the District Court dismissed the petition without prejudice to

Pendleton applying directly to the Court of Appeals for authorization under 28 U.S.C. §

2244(b)(3) to file a successive § 2254 petition for writ of habeas corpus. On January 23,

2017, Pendleton filed a Motion to Alter or Amend the [January 12] Judgment Pursuant to

Rule 59(e).1 On January 27, 2017, Pendleton filed the instant mandamus petition.

       We have the power to issue writs of mandamus under the All Writs Act, 28 U.S.C.

§ 1651(a), which provides that “[t]he Supreme Court and all courts established by Act of

Congress may issue all writs necessary or appropriate in aid of their respective

jurisdictions and agreeable to the usages and principles of law.” In re Kensington Int’l

Ltd., 353 F.3d 211, 219 (3d Cir. 2003). However, a writ of mandamus should be issued

only in extraordinary circumstances. See In re Diet Drugs Prods. Liab. Litig., 418 F.3d
2
372, 378 (3d Cir. 2005). Determining whether an extraordinary circumstance exists

requires a two-part inquiry. First, it must be established that there is no alternative

remedy or other adequate means of relief. Second, a petitioner must demonstrate a clear

and indisputable right to the relief sought. Kerr v. U.S. Dist. Ct., 426 U.S. 394, 403

(1976). A writ is not a substitute for an appeal. In re Kensington, 353 F.3d at 219. Put

simply, “[i]f, in effect, an appeal will lie, mandamus will not.” Id.

       Here, Pendleton can challenge the dismissal by the District Court of his § 2241

petition by appeal to this Court. As such, he has other adequate means of relief and is not

entitled to a writ of mandamus. Accordingly, we will deny Pendleton’s mandamus

petition. In light of our disposition, Pendleton’s Motion for Release on Bail Pending

Review and his Motion for Immediate Hearing are denied as moot.

1
 This timely motion remains pending in the District Court.
                                           3