In re: Donovan Moenell Williams

UNPUBLISHED
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
No. 22-1937
In re: DONOVAN MOENELL WILLIAMS,
Petitioner.
On Petitions for Writ of Mandamus. (5:21-ct-03174-D)
Submitted: December 6, 2022 Decided: January 4, 2023
Before WYNN and DIAZ, Circuit Judges, and FLOYD, Senior Circuit Judge.
Petitions denied by unpublished per curiam opinion.
Donovan Moenell Williams, Petitioner Pro Se.
Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.

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PER CURIAM:
Donovan Moenell Williams petitions for a writ of mandamus requesting that we
preclude the district court judge from presiding over his civil action. We conclude that
Williams 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 and “has no other adequate means to
attain the relief [he] desires.” Murphy-Brown, 907 F.3d at 795 (cleaned up).
We conclude that Williams is not entitled to mandamus relief. While mandamus
may be used to seek recusal of a district court judge, see In re Beard, 811 F.2d 818, 827
(4th Cir. 1987), we conclude that Williams’ allegations are insufficient to warrant recusal,
see Belue v. Leventhal, 640 F.3d 567, 572-73 (4th Cir. 2011).
Accordingly, we deny Williams’ petition and supplemental petition for a writ of
mandamus. We also deny Williams’ motion for extension of the deadline, a preliminary
injunction, and appointment of counsel and his motion for help. 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.
PETITIONS DENIED

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