Third Circuit disposition — 062083np-pdf

BPS-210 NOT PRECEDENTIAL
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE THIRD CIRCUIT
________________
No. 06-2083
________________
IN RE: PETER KOVALCHICK,
Petitioner
________________
On a Petition for Writ of Mandamus from the
United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
( Related to Adversary No. 06-ap-50006)
________________
Submitted Under Rule 21, Fed. R. App. Pro.
April 27, 2006
BEFORE: RENDELL, AMBRO and GREENBERG, Circuit Judges
(Filed: May 26, 2006)
________________
OPINION
________________
PER CURIAM
Peter Kovalchick seeks mandamus relief from this Court regarding a matter in the
United States Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. In particular,
Kovalchick asks this Court to compel the Bankruptcy Judge to act on a motion to recuse
himself. Kovalchick also asked this Court to stay a hearing scheduled for April 6, 2006,
in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

-- 1 of 2 --

2
Under the All Writs Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1651, we may issue a writ of mandamus only
when it is necessary or appropriate in aid of our jurisdiction. See Allied Chemical Co. v.
Daiflon, Inc., 449 U.S. 33, 34 (1980). In this case, we decline to consider Kovalchick’s
requests for relief because he could have pursued in the District Court a direct challenge
to matters in the Bankruptcy Court. See 28 U.S.C. §§ 158(a); 1651; see also In re
Nwanze, 242 F.3d 521, 524 (3d Cir. 2001) (a writ of mandamus is not warranted where
the petitioner has other adequate means of obtaining the desired relief).
However, even if we were to consider the mandamus petition and the request for a
stay, we would deny them as moot. Although Kovalchick’s recusal motion was pending
at the time this mandamus petition was filed, the Bankruptcy Judge denied the motion the
next day. With respect to Kovalchick’s request that we stay a Bankruptcy Court hearing
scheduled for April 6, 2006, we note that, prior to the hearing, the Bankruptcy Judge
postponed indefinitely all hearings, and ordered the parties to appear before him on April
26, 2006. Finally, because Kovalchick’s claims are moot, it would not be in the interest
of justice to transfer this matter to the District Court. See 28 U.S.C. § 1631.
For the foregoing reasons, we will deny Kovalchick’s mandamus petition and his
request for a stay.

-- 2 of 2 --