UNPUBLISHED UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

No. 99-7142

In Re: JULIAN EDWARD ROCHESTER, Petitioner.

On Petition for Writ of Mandamus. (CA-99-705-20AJ, CA-99-785-20AJ, CA-98-298-20AJ, CA-97-3924-20AJ, CA-98-146-21AJ)

Submitted: November 18, 1999 Decided: November 24, 1999

Before WILKINS, HAMILTON, and LUTTIG, Circuit Judges.

Petition denied by unpublished per curiam opinion.

Julian Edward Rochester, Petitioner Pro Se.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit.

See Local Rule 36(c).

PER CURIAM: Julian Edward Rochester filed this petition for a writ of man- damus requesting this court to direct a South Carolina state court to act on a pending post-conviction relief petition. Because we have no general power to compel action by state courts, we deny the petition. See Davis v. Lansing, 851 F.2d 72, 74 (2d Cir. 1988).

We grant the motion to proceed in forma pauperis and 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