In re JONES

Case: 26-130 Document: 7 Page: 1 Filed: 03/20/2026

NOTE: This order is nonprecedential.

United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ______________________ In Re THOMAS MELVIN JONES, JR., Petitioner ______________________ 2026-130 ______________________ On Petition for Writ of Mandamus to the Department of Veterans Affairs. ______________________ ON PETITION AND MOTION ______________________ Before DYK, REYNA, and HUGHES, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM.

ORDER Thomas Melvin Jones, Jr. petitions for a writ of man- damus “commanding the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Board of Veterans’ Appeals” to grant various relief in con- nection with his claims for veterans benefits “currently pending before the Board.” ECF No. 2 at 3. Mr. Jones also moves for leave to proceed in forma pauperis.

A writ of mandamus is an extraordinary remedy and may only issue if petitioner has shown a clear and indis- putable right to relief and that there are no other adequate means to attain the relief desired. See Cheney v. U.S. Dist. Ct. for D.C., 542 U.S. 367, 380–81 (2004). Mr. Jones has Case: 26-130 Document: 7 Page: 2 Filed: 03/20/2026

2 IN RE JONES not met this demanding standard here at least because he has not shown that the normal appeal process is inade- quate1 or that any delay in this matter is so egregious as to warrant mandamus relief.

Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED THAT: (1) The petition for mandamus is denied. (2) The motion for leave to proceed in forma pauperis is denied as moot.

FOR THE COURT

March 20, 2026 Date

1 The court notes that Mr. Jones has also filed a pe- tition with the United States Court of Veterans Appeals re- garding his claims. Jones v. Collins, 26-743.