UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 00-6773
In Re: DOUGLAS A. REDLESKI,
Petitioner.
On Petition for Writ of Mandamus. (CA-99-37)
Submitted: September 8, 2000 Decided: September 28, 2000
Before WILKINS, NIEMEYER, and MOTZ, Circuit Judges.
Petition denied by unpublished per curiam opinion.
Douglas A. Redleski, Petitioner Pro Se.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
See Local Rule 36(c).
PER CURIAM:
Douglas A. Redleski petitions this court for a writ of manda-
mus. He asks this court to direct the district court to rule on
his 28 U.S.C.A. § 2254 (West 1994 & Supp. 2000) petition, alleging
that the district court has delayed unreasonably. Writs of man-
damus are extraordinary writs, and the power to issue them is
sparingly exercised. See Kerr v. United States Dist. Ct., 426 U.S.
394, 402 (1976). Redleski’s petition does not set forth such ex-
ceptional circumstances as would warrant the issuance of a writ of
mandamus at this time. We note, however, that the district court
has taken no action for over seven months. Accordingly, we deny
Redleski’s petition without prejudice to his refiling it if the
district court fails to act within a reasonable time. The motion
to proceed in forma pauperis is granted. We dispense with oral
argument, because the facts and legal contentions are adequately
presented in the materials before the court and argument would not
aid the decisional process.
PETITION DENIED
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