No. 19-7058October Term 2019Decided Apr 27, 2020Updated Sep 5, 2026
In re Randall
The Supreme Court declined to compel the lower federal courts to decide Randall's pending matters.
Case status
Decided · April 27, 2020
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released Apr 27, 2020
- What it's about
Ramsey Randall asked the Supreme Court to issue a writ of mandamus requiring the federal district court in South Carolina and the Fourth Circuit to rule on motions and appeals he said had remained pending for too long. The Court denied the requested writ, so Randall did not obtain an order compelling the lower courts to act.
Question presented
1. Whether the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit have failed to exercise their jurisdiction by refusing to rule on Petitioner’s long-pending motions and appeals? 2. Whether a writ of mandamus should issue to compel the lower courts to decide the Petitioner’s cases?
- Case path
Decision released Apr 27, 2020
- Area
Decided Supreme Court case
Decision
What the Court decided
The Supreme Court declined to compel the lower federal courts to decide Randall's pending matters.
Impact
Randall did not receive a Supreme Court order requiring the lower courts to act. For a person waiting on court motions or an appeal, delays can leave a case unresolved for an extended period.
Not official Court text.
Briefing
What it's about
Ramsey Randall asked the Supreme Court for a writ of mandamus (an order requiring a court to act) directing federal courts in South Carolina to decide delayed motions and appeals. The Court denied the requested writ and did not decide the merits of Randall's underlying cases.
Impact
Randall did not receive a Supreme Court order requiring the lower courts to act. For a person waiting on court motions or an appeal, delays can leave a case unresolved for an extended period.
What's next
The Court has finished this docket action. Randall did not obtain an order directing the district court or the Fourth Circuit to act.
What did the Supreme Court do in In re Randall?
The Court denied Randall's request for a writ of mandamus, an order requiring lower courts to act. It did not decide the merits of his underlying cases.
Who was affected by the decision in In re Randall?
Ramsey Randall was directly affected because he did not receive an order requiring the federal courts to decide his pending motions and appeals.
What happens next after In re Randall?
The Supreme Court's docket action is complete. Randall's requested order to compel action by the lower courts was not granted.
Timing
Decided April 27, 2020
The Court released its decision on April 27, 2020 without hearing oral argument.
Documents
Activity
Docket activity2
AI analysis generated: Case Briefing
Sep 5, 2026 | Generated
Brief added: Petition
Nov 24, 2019 | Court records
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary materials plus reporting.
- Note
- Best-effort analysis: this explainer relies on a mix of primary materials and trusted secondary sources. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- Sep 5, 2026
- Method
- Methodology