                              UNPUBLISHED

                  UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
                      FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT


                              No. 07-6212




In Re:   ERIC CREIGHTON SAMPSON,




                                                           Petitioner.



                On Petition for a Writ of Mandamus.
                         (3:95-cr-00031-2)


Submitted:   April 19, 2007                 Decided:   April 25, 2007


Before NIEMEYER, KING, and GREGORY, Circuit Judges.


Petition denied by unpublished per curiam opinion.


Eric Creighton Sampson, Petitioner Pro Se.


Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.
PER CURIAM:

          Eric Creighton Sampson petitions for a writ of mandamus

seeking an order clarifying the court’s opinion in his direct

appeal and remanding his case to the district court.            See United

States v. Sampson, 140 F.3d 575 (4th Cir. 1998).        We conclude that

Sampson is not entitled to mandamus relief.

          Mandamus relief is available only when the petitioner has

a clear right to the relief sought.        In re First Fed. Sav. & Loan

Ass’n, 860 F.2d 135, 138 (4th Cir. 1988).        Further, mandamus is a

drastic   remedy    and   should   only    be   used   in    extraordinary

circumstances.     Kerr v. United States Dist. Court, 426 U.S. 394,

402 (1976); In re Beard, 811 F.2d 818, 826 (4th Cir. 1987).

Mandamus may not be used as a substitute for appeal.           In re United

Steelworkers, 595 F.2d 958, 960 (4th Cir. 1979).

          The relief sought by Sampson is not available by way of

mandamus. Accordingly, although we grant leave to proceed in forma

pauperis, we deny the petition for writ of mandamus.           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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