UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 99-7203
In Re: CHRISTOPHER LANE PITMAN,
Petitioner.
On Petition for Writ of Mandamus. (CR-96-12)
Submitted: November 18, 1999 Decided: November 24, 1999
Before WILKINS, HAMILTON, and LUTTIG, Circuit Judges.
Petition denied by unpublished per curiam opinion.
Christopher Lane Pitman, Petitioner Pro Se.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
See Local Rule 36(c).
PER CURIAM:
Christopher Pitman has filed a petition for a writ of mandamus
from this court seeking to have this court recommend that Pitman
serve his federal sentence concurrently with his state sentence,
recommend removal of the federal detainer lodged against him, and
declare that he has satisfied his federal term of imprisonment.
Mandamus is a drastic remedy to be used only in extraordinary cir-
cumstances. See Kerr v. United States Dist. Court, 426 U.S. 394,
402 (1976). Mandamus relief is only available when there are no
other means by which the relief sought could be granted, see In re
Beard, 811 F.2d 818, 826 (4th Cir. 1987), and may not be used as a
substitute for appeal. See In re Catawba Indian Tribe, 973 F.2d
1133, 1135 (4th Cir. 1992). The party seeking mandamus relief
carries the heavy burden of showing that he has “no other adequate
means to attain the relief he desires” and that his entitlement to
such relief is “clear and indisputable.” Allied Chem. Corp. v.
Daiflon, Inc., 449 U.S. 33, 35 (1980). Pitman has not made such a
showing. Accordingly, we deny Pitman’s motion to proceed in forma
pauperis and his petition for mandamus relief. We 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
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