Stanley Lorenzo Williams petitions for a writ of mandamus seeking an order compelling the chief judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina to act on his objections to the magistrate judge’s October 31, 2007, order rejecting post-judgment motions in Williams’ 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (2000) proceeding. We conclude that Williams is not entitled to mandamus relief.
Mandamus relief is available only when the petitioner has a clear right to the relief sought. In re First Fed. Sav. & Loan Ass’n, 860 F.2d 135, 138 (4th Cir.1988). Further, mandamus is a drastic remedy and should only be used in extraordinary circumstances. Kerr v. United States Dist. Court, 426 U.S. 394, 402, 96 S.Ct. 2119, 48 L.Ed.2d 725 (1976); In re Beard, 811 F.2d 818, 826 (4th Cir.1987).
The record reveals that the chief judge is not assigned to Williams’ case and that the assigned judge has already ruled on Williams’ objections to the magistrate judge’s October 31, 2007, order. Accordingly, although we grant leave to proceed in forma pauperis, we deny the petition for writ of mandamus. Williams’ motions for expansion of the record and for a permanent stay of execution of his state court sentences and to expedite consideration of the motion for stay are denied. We dis*51pense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.
PETITION DENIED.