IN RE: Juan Pablo CONTRERAS (2018)

Juan Pablo Contreras petitions for a writ of mandamus, seeking to compel the district court to serve him with a copy of the Government's motion for summary judgment related to Contreras' 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (2012) motion and to serve him with all other documents filed in the case. 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, 96 S.Ct. 2119, 48 L.Ed.2d 725 (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, and the respondent has a clear duty to do the act requested. Cumberland Cty. Hosp. Sys., Inc. v. Burwell, 816 F.3d 48, 52 (4th Cir. 2016); see In re Braxton, 258 F.3d 250, 261 (4th Cir. 2001) (setting forth standard for granting writ of mandamus). Thus, the relief sought by Contreras is not available by way of mandamus, and, although we grant Contreras' application to proceed in forma pauperis, we deny his mandamus petition.

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

PER CURIAM:

Petition denied by unpublished per curiam opinion. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.