IN RE: Raymond BULLETTE (2018)

Raymond Bullette, III, petitions for a writ of mandamus, seeking an order directing the district court to effectively manage its calendar and to timely reply to the pleadings related to his 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (2012) motion. He seeks an order from this court directing the district court to act. We find the present record does not reveal undue delay in the district court.

Bullette also seeks an order directing the district court to compel the Government to serve him with certain documents and to sanction the Government for failing to serve the documents. 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). The district court has denied Bullette’s motion to compel service, and mandamus may not be used as a substitute for appeal. In re Lockheed Martin Corp., 503 F.3d 351, 353 (4th Cir. 2007).

Finally, Bullette seeks an order directing the recusal of the presiding district judge. Although mandamus is a proper avenue to seek judicial recusal, In re Beard, 811 F.2d 818, 827 (4th Cir. 1987), Bullette has not identified a proper ground for recusal, Liteky v. United States, 510 U.S. 540, 555, 114 S.Ct. 1147, 127 L.Ed.2d 474 (1994).

Accordingly, although we grant leave to proceed in forma pauperis, we deny Bullette’s 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Petition denied by unpublished per curiam opinion. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.