Anderson v. State Of Mississippi

Filing 4

MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER denying 1 MOTION for Writ of Mandamus. Signed by Judge Daniel P. Jordan III on April 27, 2007. (spowell, )

Anderson v. State Of Mississippi

Doc. 4

Case 3:07-cv-00221-DPJ-JCS

Document 4

Filed 04/27/2007

Page 1 of 2

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI JACKSON DIVISION GEORGE ANDERSON VERSUS STATE OF MISSISSIPPI MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER This matter is before the Court, sua sponte, for consideration of dismissal. Petitioner is a inmate incarcerated at the Hinds County Detention Center, Jackson, Mississippi. Petitioner filed a motion for a writ of mandamus [1-1]. The Petitioner states that the state trial court should "hold an immediate hearing on his motion to dismiss for failure to indict the petitioner." (Pet. p. 1). In the instant civil action, the Petitioner requests that this Court order the state trial court to hold a hearing on the petitioner's motion to dismiss. It appears to this Court that the Petitioner relies upon 28 U.S.C. § 1361. That section grants this Court original jurisdiction "of any action in the nature of mandamus to compel an officer or employee of the United States or any agency thereof to perform a duty owed to the Petitioner." 28 U.S.C. § 1361 (emphasis added). Federal courts have no authority under section 1361 "to issue writs of mandamus to direct state courts and their judicial officers in the performance of their duties where mandamus is the only relief sought." Moye v. Clerk, DeKalb County Superior Court, 474 F.2d 1275-76 (5th Cir. 1973) (emphasis added); see also Noble v. Cain, 123 F. App'x 151, 152 (5th Cir. 2005); Rhodes v. Keller, 77 F. App'x 261, (5th Cir. 2003); Santee v. Quinlan, 115 F.3d 355, 356-57 (5th Cir. 1997). The respondent is not an officer or employee of the United States and therefore, is not PETITIONER CIVIL ACTION NO. 3:07cv221-DPJ-JCS RESPONDENT

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Case 3:07-cv-00221-DPJ-JCS

Document 4

Filed 04/27/2007

Page 2 of 2

subject to the statutory mandamus authority of this Court. Therefore, this Court does not have jurisdiction in the nature of mandamus, under 28 U.S.C. § 1361, to direct the respondents to comply with Petitioner's requests. Further, "[t]he remedy of mandamus is a drastic one, to be invoked only in extraordinary situations." Kerr v. United States Dist. Ct., 426 U.S. 394, 402 (1976). "Moreover, it is important to remember that issuance of the writ is in large part a matter of discretion with the court to which the petition is addressed." Id. at 403. CONCLUSION This Court does not have jurisdiction to issue a writ of mandamus to direct the Respondent to enter a ruling or make a decision on the Petitioner' motion to dismiss pending s before the state trial court. Therefore, Petitioner's motion for a writ of mandamus [1-1] is DENIED. A Final Judgment in accordance with this Memorandum Opinion and Order will be entered.
SO ORDERED AND ADJUDGED this the 27th day of April, 2007. s/ Daniel P. Jordan III UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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