State ex rel. Todd Hewitt, Relator v. Honorable Kristine Kerr, Judge, Circuit Court for St. Louis County, Missouri

Introduction

This Court’s power to issue remedial writs derives from article V, section 4.1 of the Missouri Constitution. State ex rel. Dir. of Revenue v. Mobley, 49 S.W.3d 178, 179 (Mo. banc 2001). A writ of mandamus may issue under very limited circumstances as it “is a hard and fast unreasoning writ, and is reserved for extraordinary emergencies.” Norval v. Whitesell, 605 S.W.2d 789, 791 (Mo. banc 1980).

A court should issue a writ of mandamus only if the relator has demonstrated a clear, unequivocal, and specific right to have the respondent take action. State ex rel. Missouri Growth Ass’n…