IN RE: John Monroe WILSON (2020)

John Monroe Wilson petitions for a writ of mandamus, alleging that the district court has unduly delayed in ruling on his 28 U.S.C. § 2255 (2018) and Fed. R. Crim. P. 52(b) motions. He seeks an order from this court directing the district court to act. He also requests an order instructing the district court to release him pending adjudication of his claim, appoint counsel, and direct an expert evaluation. We conclude that Wilson is not entitled to mandamus relief.

Mandamus relief is a drastic remedy and should be used only in extraordinary circumstances. Cheney v. U.S. Dist. Court, 542 U.S. 367, 380, 124 S.Ct. 2576, 159 L.Ed.2d 459 (2004); In re Murphy-Brown, LLC, 907 F.3d 788, 795 (4th Cir. 2018). An undue delay in the district court may qualify as an extraordinary circumstance justifying mandamus relief. See In re United States ex rel. Drummond, 886 F.3d 448, 450 (5th Cir. 2018) (collecting cases). But mandamus relief is not available if the petitioner has other adequate means to attain the relief sought. Murphy-Brown, 907 F.3d at 795.

Our review of the district court’s docket reveals that the district court recently took significant action on Wilson’s § 2255 and Rule 52(b) motions. Accordingly, we deny the portion of the mandamus petition seeking a remedy for undue delay by the district court. And, because Wilson has failed to establish that he has no other adequate means to attain the additional relief he requests, we deny the remainder of his mandamus petition. We grant Wilson leave to proceed in forma pauperis.

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Petition denied by unpublished per curiam opinion. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.