UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 99-7142
In Re: JULIAN EDWARD ROCHESTER,
Petitioner.
On Petition for Writ of Mandamus.
(CA-99-705-20AJ, CA-99-785-20AJ, CA-98-298-20AJ,
CA-97-3924-20AJ, CA-98-146-21AJ)
Submitted: November 18, 1999 Decided: November 24, 1999
Before WILKINS, HAMILTON, and LUTTIG, Circuit Judges.
Petition denied by unpublished per curiam opinion.
Julian Edward Rochester, Petitioner Pro Se.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
See Local Rule 36(c).
PER CURIAM:
Julian Edward Rochester filed this petition for a writ of man-
damus requesting this court to direct a South Carolina state court
to act on a pending post-conviction relief petition. Because we
have no general power to compel action by state courts, we deny the
petition. See Davis v. Lansing, 851 F.2d 72, 74 (2d Cir. 1988).
We grant the motion to proceed in forma pauperis and dispense with
oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequate-
ly presented in the materials before the court and argument would
not aid the decisional process.
PETITION DENIED
2