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In re Smith

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
Jun 26, 2017
No. 16-2379 (4th Cir. Jun. 26, 2017)

Opinion

No. 16-2379

06-26-2017

In re: DAVID LEE SMITH, Petitioner.

David Lee Smith, Petitioner Pro Se.


UNPUBLISHED

On Petition for Writ of Mandamus
(No. 5:16-ct-03297-FL) Before GREGORY, Chief Judge, and FLOYD and HARRIS, 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 Petition denied by unpublished per curiam opinion.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 Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.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 issue a summons to federal government officials and directing them to reduce Smith's state sentence to time served. 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 dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before this court and argument would not aid the decisional process.

PETITION DENIED


Summaries of

In re Smith

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
Jun 26, 2017
No. 16-2379 (4th Cir. Jun. 26, 2017)
Case details for

In re Smith

Case Details

Full title:In re: DAVID LEE SMITH, Petitioner.

Court:UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

Date published: Jun 26, 2017

Citations

No. 16-2379 (4th Cir. Jun. 26, 2017)