In Re: Mendez v.

UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT No. 06-7972 In Re: RAPHAEL MENDEZ, Petitioner. On Petition for Writ of Mandamus. (5:91-hc-00350-BR) Submitted: January 18, 2007 Decided: January 24, 2007 Before WILKINSON, TRAXLER, and GREGORY, Circuit Judges. Petition denied by unpublished per curiam opinion. Raphael Mendez, Petitioner Pro Se. Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. PER CURIAM: Raphael Mendez petitions for a writ of mandamus. He seeks an order directing that his discharge hearing under 18 U.S.C. § 4247(h) (2000) be transferred to a court in the Virgin Islands. Mandamus relief is available only when the petitioner has a clear right to the relief sought. See In re First Fed. Sav. & Loan Assn., 860 F.2d 135, 138 (4th Cir. 1988). Further, mandamus is a drastic remedy and should only be used in extraordinary circumstances. See Kerr v. United States Dist. Court, 426 U.S. 394, 402 (1976); In re Beard, 811 F.2d 818, 826 (4th Cir. 1987). Because there is no indication Mendez has a clear right to the requested relief, we deny his petition. See § 4247(h). Accordingly, although we grant leave to proceed in forma pauperis, we deny the petition for writ of mandamus. 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 - 2 -