Third Circuit disposition — 261968np-pdf

NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
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No. 26-1968
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IN RE: RICHARD C. MURPHY,
Petitioner
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On a Petition for Writ of Mandamus to the
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
(Related to D.N.J. Crim. No. 2:21-cv-08162)
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Submitted Pursuant to Rule 21, Fed. R. App. P.
July 2, 2026
Before: CHAGARES, Chief Judge, HARDIMAN and RESTREPO, Circuit Judges
(Opinion filed July 23, 2026)
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OPINION*
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PER CURIAM
Richard Murphy filed a pro se petition for a writ of mandamus asking us to direct
the District Court to rule on his motion to vacate his sentence. Thereafter, on July 15,
* This disposition is not an opinion of the full Court and pursuant to I.O.P. 5.7 does not
constitute binding precedent.

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2026, the District Court denied Murphy’s amended motion, declined to issue a certificate
of appealability, and directed the District Court Clerk to close the case. In view of that
decision, this mandamus petition no longer presents a live controversy. Therefore, we
will dismiss it as moot. See Blanciak v. Allegheny Ludlum Corp., 77 F.3d 690, 698–99
(3d Cir. 1996).

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