Dwayne Jay Norton v. Judge Laura Ward, in the Circuit Court of the 13th Judicial Court for County of Hillsborough

M.D. Florida

Dwayne Jay Norton v. Judge Laura Ward, in the Circuit Court of the 13th Judicial Court for County of Hillsborough

DecidedMarch 3, 2026

Docket8:26-cv-00504

StatusUnknown

This text of Dwayne Jay Norton v. Judge Laura Ward, in the Circuit Court of the 13th Judicial Court for County of Hillsborough (Dwayne Jay Norton v. Judge Laura Ward, in the Circuit Court of the 13th Judicial Court for County of Hillsborough) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, M.D. Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

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Dwayne Jay Norton v. Judge Laura Ward, in the Circuit Court of the 13th Judicial Court for County of Hillsborough, (M.D. Fla. 2026).

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA TAMPA DIVISION

DWAYNE JAY NORTON,

Petitioner,

v. Case No.: 8:26-cv-504-JLB-NHA

JUDGE LAURA WARD, in the Circuit Court of the 13th Judicial Court for County of Hillsborough,

Respondent. ________ _____/

ORDER

Before the Court is Petitioner Dwayne Jay Norton’s Petition for Writ of Mandamus. (Doc. 1). Petitioner asserts claims against Judge Laura Ward, a state circuit court judge in Hillsborough County, Florida, who is presiding over a civil action brought by Petitioner, and against Petitioner’s own privately retained attorney. He asks this Court to issue a writ of mandamus directing Judge Ward to grant him a hearing, sign an unsigned order, vacate an order, and stop discriminating against Petitioner based on his disability. (Id. at 12–13). He also asks this Court to issue the writ directing his attorney to continue representing him in the state civil proceeding, to stop violating a Florida Bar rule, to provide him with discovery from his civil case, and to file an amended complaint in his state civil action. (Id.). The Court does not have jurisdiction to provide Petitioner with the relief he seeks. See Lawrence v. Miami-Dade County State Att’y Office, 272 F. App’x 781, 781 (11th Cir. 2008) (“Because the only relief Lawrence sought was a writ of mandamus compelling action from state officials, not federal officials, the district court lacked jurisdiction to grant relief and did not err in dismissing the petition.”); Bailey v. Silberman, 226 F. App’x 922, 924 (11th Cir. 2007) (“Federal courts have no jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus directing a state court and its judicial officers in the performance of their duties where mandamus is the only relief sought.”); Carlan v. Flint Energies, 2025 WL 2472582, at *3 (M.D. Ga. Aug. 27, 2025) (“Petitions for writs of mandamus... sought against private parties ... are frivolous.). Accordingly, itis ORDERED: 1. Petitioner’s Petition for Writ of Mandamus (Doc. 1) is DENIED, and this case is DISMISSED. 2. The Clerk is DIRECTED to deny any pending motion as moot, enter judgment, and close this file. DONE and ORDERED in Tampa, Florida, on March 3, 2026.

JOHN L. BADALAMENTI UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA TAMPA DIVISION

DWAYNE JAY NORTON,

Petitioner,

v. Case No.: 8:26-cv-504-JLB-NHA

JUDGE LAURA WARD, in the Circuit Court of the 13th Judicial Court for County of Hillsborough,

Respondent. ________ _____/

ORDER

Before the Court is Petitioner Dwayne Jay Norton’s Petition for Writ of Mandamus. (Doc. 1). Petitioner asserts claims against Judge Laura Ward, a state circuit court judge in Hillsborough County, Florida, who is presiding over a civil action brought by Petitioner, and against Petitioner’s own privately retained attorney. He asks this Court to issue a writ of mandamus directing Judge Ward to grant him a hearing, sign an unsigned order, vacate an order, and stop discriminating against Petitioner based on his disability. (Id. at 12–13). He also asks this Court to issue the writ directing his attorney to continue representing him in the state civil proceeding, to stop violating a Florida Bar rule, to provide him with discovery from his civil case, and to file an amended complaint in his state civil action. (Id.). The Court does not have jurisdiction to provide Petitioner with the relief he seeks. See Lawrence v. Miami-Dade County State Att’y Office, 272 F. App’x 781, 781 (11th Cir. 2008) (“Because the only relief Lawrence sought was a writ of mandamus compelling action from state officials, not federal officials, the district court lacked jurisdiction to grant relief and did not err in dismissing the petition.”); Bailey v. Silberman, 226 F. App’x 922, 924 (11th Cir. 2007) (“Federal courts have no jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus directing a state court and its judicial officers in the performance of their duties where mandamus is the only relief sought.”); Carlan v. Flint Energies, 2025 WL 2472582, at *3 (M.D. Ga. Aug. 27, 2025) (“Petitions for writs of mandamus... sought against private parties ... are frivolous.). Accordingly, itis ORDERED: 1. Petitioner’s Petition for Writ of Mandamus (Doc. 1) is DENIED, and this case is DISMISSED. 2. The Clerk is DIRECTED to deny any pending motion as moot, enter judgment, and close this file. DONE and ORDERED in Tampa, Florida, on March 3, 2026.

JOHN L. BADALAMENTI UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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