Summary
denying prisoner motion for relief under the All Writs Act due to suspension of mail delivery because separate civil lawsuit provided an adequate remedy to obtain relief
Summary of this case from United States v. WhiteOpinion
No. 08-60772 Conference Calendar.
April 30, 2009.
Robert Wall, Federal Correctional Institution Yazoo City, Yazoo City, MS, pro se.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, USDC No. 5:08-CV-234.
Before JONES, Chief Judge, and JOLLY and ELROD, Circuit Judges.
Robert Wall, federal prisoner # 13965-052, is appealing the district court's denial of his petition for mandamus and his request for relief under the All Writs Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1651. He argues that the warden suspended the delivery of legal and personal mail because of an incident in another facility and that it may prejudice his ability to prosecute his pending proceeding filed pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255. Wall contends that he has no other adequate remedy to obtain access to the courts.
A "writ of mandamus is an order directing a public official or public body to perform a duty exacted by law." United States v. Denson, 603 F.2d 1143, 1146 (5th Cir. 1979). It "is an extraordinary remedy for extraordinary causes." In re Corrugated Container Antitrust Litig. v. Mead Corp., 614 F.2d 958, 961-62 (5th Cir. 1980) (internal citations and quotations omitted). To obtain the writ, the petitioner must show "that no other adequate means exist to attain the requested relief and that his right to the issuance of the writ is `clear and indisputable.'" In re Willy, 831 F.2d 545, 549 (5th Cir. 1987) (citations omitted). The issuance of the writ is within the court's discretion. Denson, 608 F.2d at 1146. If Wall can show that the suspension of the mail delivery has prejudiced his rights in a legal process, his appropriate remedy is to file a complaint pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging the denial of access to the courts. See Richardson v. McDonnell, 841 F.2d 120, 122 (5th Cir. 1988). Thus, he has an adequate civil remedy.
Insofar as Wall seeks relief under the All Writs Act, it is not available unless the applicant can show that he has no other adequate remedy. In re Monies, 677 F.2d 415, 416 (5th Cir. 1982). As previously discussed, Wall has an adequate remedy to obtain relief.
The district court did not abuse its discretion in denying the petition for mandamus or Wall's request for relief under the All Writs Act, § 1651. Accordingly, the judgment of the district court is AFFIRMED.