UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 20-2385
In re: ABANOOB ABDEL-MALAK,
Petitioner.
On Petition for Writ of Mandamus
(No. 1:20-cv-01143-CCE-LPA)
Submitted: June 24, 2021 Decided: June 28, 2021
Before KING and THACKER, Circuit Judges, and TRAXLER, Senior Circuit Judge.
Petition denied by unpublished per curiam opinion.
Abanoob Abdel-Malak, Petitioner Pro Se.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM:
Abanoob Abdel-Malak, a North Carolina resident, filed a petition for removal of his
California state criminal case to federal court in the Middle District of North Carolina. The
magistrate judge recommended summarily remanding to the California state court on the
ground that the district court lacked jurisdiction. Before the district court accepted the
magistrate judge’s recommendation, Abdel-Malak filed the subject petition for a writ of
mandamus in this court seeking appointment of counsel, access to legal resources, and
electronic filing in the district court. We conclude that Abdel-Malak 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. Ct., 542 U.S. 367, 380 (2004); In re Murphy-Brown,
LLC, 907 F.3d 788, 795 (4th Cir. 2018). Further, mandamus relief is available only when
the petitioner has a clear right to the relief sought. Murphy-Brown, 907 F.3d at 795.
Mandamus may not be used as a substitute for appeal, In re Lockheed Martin Corp.,
503 F.3d 351, 353 (4th Cir. 2007), and this court does not have jurisdiction to grant
mandamus relief against state officials, Gurley v. Superior Ct. of Mecklenburg Cnty.,
411 F.2d 586, 587 (4th Cir. 1969).
The relief sought by Abdel-Malak is not available by way of mandamus.
Accordingly, we deny the petition for writ of mandamus. We further deny Abdel-Malak’s
pending motions for costs, to consolidate, for attorney’s fees, to appoint counsel, for oral
argument via video or tele-conference, and other relief. We deny as moot his motions for
stay pending appeal, to accelerate case processing, and to expedite.
2
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
3
In re: Abanoob Abdel-Malak
Combined Opinion