UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 98-605
In Re: CLAUDE RAYMOND CURRY,
Petitioner.
On Petition for Writ of Mandamus. (CA-91-262)
Submitted: November 19, 1998 Decided: December 1, 1998
Before HAMILTON and WILLIAMS, Circuit Judges, and BUTZNER, Senior
Circuit Judge.
Petition denied by unpublished per curiam opinion.
Claude Raymond Curry, Petitioner Pro Se.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
See Local Rule 36(c).
PER CURIAM:
Claude Raymond Curry filed a petition for a writ of mandamus
from this court seeking an order compelling enforcement of his con-
stitutional rights. Mandamus is a drastic remedy to be used only in
extraordinary circumstances. 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 of S.C., 973 F.2d 1133, 1135 (4th Cir. 1992). Ac-
cordingly, although we grant the motion for leave to proceed in
forma pauperis, we deny mandamus relief. 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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