Collins v. Taylor

Collins and three other petitioners are inmates at Holmes Correctional Institution. *333They transmitted petitions for name change to respondent Taylor, who is Clerk of the Circuit Court for Holmes County. Petitioners recited in their pleadings that they wished to change their names to conform to their Islamic beliefs. The petitions were returned unfiled with a note from respondent indicating that a circuit judge will not order the petitioners to be transported to appear at civil hearings.

Petitioners now ask this court for a writ of mandamus, arguing that the respondent has a ministerial duty to…