UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 99-6524
In Re: DENVER W. BLEVINS,
Petitioner.
On Petition for Writ of Mandamus. (CA-98-383-1)
Submitted: May 13, 1999 Decided: May 19, 1999
Before WIDENER and MOTZ, Circuit Judges, and BUTZNER, Senior Cir-
cuit Judge.
Petition denied by unpublished per curiam opinion.
Denver W. Blevins, Petitioner Pro Se.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
See Local Rule 36(c).
PER CURIAM:
Denver Blevins petitions this court for a Writ of Mandamus
directing the United States District Court for the Middle District
of North Carolina to grant him a hearing on his allegation that
state employees have consistently altered pleadings he has filed in
connection with a petition he filed under 28 U.S.C.A. § 2254 (West
1994 & Supp. 1998). Mandamus relief is an extraordinary remedy
only appropriate where the petitioner shows that no other means of
relief is available. In re Beard, 811 F.2d 818, 826 (4th Cir.
1987). Should the district court ultimately deny Blevins’ § 2254
petition, he will have the opportunity to appeal. On appeal, he
can raise his claim that the district court’s refusal to conduct a
hearing on the alleged alteration of his pleadings violated his
right to access the courts and challenge his conviction under §
2254. We therefore grant leave to proceed in forma pauperis but
deny Blevins’ petition for a Writ of Mandamus. 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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