In re SB v. United States

U NITED S TATES A IR F ORCE
C OURT OF C RIMINAL APPEALS
________________________
Misc. Dkt. No. 2023-10
________________________
In re SB
Petitioner
Janelle M. RAMSEY
Technical Sergeant (E-6), U.S. Air Force
Real Party in Interest
________________________
Review of Petition for Extraordinary Relief in the Nature of
a Writ of Mandamus
Decided 12 December 2023
________________________
Military Judge: Thomas A. Smith.
GCM convened at: Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.
For Petitioner: Major Portia I. Mullings, USAF; Devon A. R. Wells, Es-
quire.
Before JOHNSON, CADOTTE, and MASON, Appellate Military Judges.
Chief Judge JOHNSON delivered the opinion of the court, in which Sen-
ior Judge CADOTTE and Judge MASON joined.
________________________
This is an unpublished opinion and, as such, does not serve as
precedent under AFCCA Rule of Practice and Procedure 30.4.
________________________
In re SB, Misc. Dkt. No. 2023-10
JOHNSON, Chief Judge:
On 14 November 2023, pursuant to Article 6b, Uniform Code of Military
Justice (UCMJ), 10 U.S.C. § 806b,1 and Rule 19 of the Joint Rules of Appellate
Procedure for Courts of Criminal Appeals, JT. CT. CRIM. APP. R. 19, Petitioner
requested: (1) this court issue an immediate stay of an order by the military
judge in the pending general court-martial of the Real Party in Interest (RPI)
identified above; and (2) “time to supplement [her] Petition with further brief-
ing by 21 November 2023.” On 17 November 2023, this court denied Peti-
tioner’s request for an immediate stay of the military judge’s order and granted
Petitioner’s request to supplement her petition with additional filings by 21
November 2023. On 20 November 2023, Petitioner filed a supplemental brief
in support of her petition, requesting this court vacate the military judge’s or-
der and require the military judge to “appropriately recognize any production
of mental health records requires [a Military Rules of Evidence (Mil. R. Evid.)]
513(e) hearing and that the [Department of Defense] Health Record is subject
only to the rules and process of [Rule for Courts-Martial (R.C.M.)] 703 when
seeking disclosure of non-privileged records.”
Having considered the petition and the matters attached thereto, we deny
the petition.
I. BACKGROUND
The petition and its several attachments indicate the following sequence of
events.
On 1 June 2023, the convening authority referred for trial by general court-
martial three specifications of abusive sexual contact and one specification of
assault consummated by a battery in violation of Articles 120 and 128, UCMJ,
10 U.S.C. §§ 920, 928, allegedly committed by the RPI. SB is the alleged victim
of two of the Article 120, UCMJ, specifications and the Article 128, UCMJ,
specification. The alleged victim of the third Article 120, UCMJ, specification
is SC, who has filed a separate petition with this court that essentially mirrors
Petitioner’s which we address in a separate opinion.
On 27 August 2023, the Defense moved the trial court “to be permitted to
question [Petitioner] and other witnesses about [Petitioner’s] mental health
information, diagnoses, and treatment history, and to obtain access to her as-
sociated mental health records.” Petitioner (through counsel) and the
1 References in this opinion to the punitive articles of the UCMJ are to the Manual for
Courts-Martial, United States (2019 ed.). References to the non-punitive provisions of
the UCMJ, the Rules for Courts-Martial, and the Military Rules of Evidence are to the
Manual for Courts-Martial, United States (2023 ed.).
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Government opposed the defense motion on 3 and 5 September 2023, respec-
tively. Although Petitioner has not provided a ruling from the military judge
on the defense motion, on 18 October 2023 trial counsel advised the military
judge via email that the “Government is still seeking to provide responsive in-
formation to the Defense’s [Mil. R. Evid.] 513 motion,” and requested the mili-
tary judge “provide a written court order to provide with a subpoena to [the
Defense Health Agency (DHA)] for the mental health information.” In re-
sponse, the military judge asked trial counsel to prepare a draft order for the
military judge’s review. Trial counsel did so, and the military judge provided
signed orders regarding Petitioner and SC to trial counsel on 30 October 2023.
Trial counsel apparently provided revised versions of the draft orders dated 3
November 2023 for the military judge to sign. On 9 November 2023, trial coun-
sel reported to the military judge via email that the Government had “served
court orders and subpoenas on the 47th Medical Group [(47 MDG)]” located at
Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas.
Although Petitioner has not provided this court with a signed version of the
military judge’s order, for purposes of our analysis we will assume (as Peti-
tioner evidently does) the military judge issued a signed order substantially
similar to the 3 November 2023 draft order attached to the petition. The order
indicates that on 30 October 2023, the military judge granted a motion by trial
counsel “to compel the production of ‘[a]ll mental health disorder diagnoses,
treatment and prescriptions’ related to [Petitioner].” (First alteration in origi-
nal). The order directs the DHA, the 47 MDG, another Air Force medical group,
and any subordinate clinics to “produce” any records they maintained related
to Petitioner’s “mental health diagnosis or diagnoses,” “[a]ny treatment or
treatment plan for such diagnosis or diagnoses,” and “[a]ny prescriptions re-
lated to such diagnosis or diagnoses.” (Emphasis omitted). The draft order di-
rected that the “appropriate medical professional, in coordination with the
medical law attorney[,] will ensure any responsive records are redacted of all
information not specifically identified” by the order. In particular, the order
stated “[n]one of the responsive records should include confidential communi-
cations between [Petitioner] and any psychotherapist.” (Emphasis omitted)
(first citing Mil. R. Evid. 513; and then citing United States v. Mellette, 82 M.J.
374 (C.A.A.F. 2022)), cert. denied, 143 S. Ct. 2637 (2023). The order noted the
trial was scheduled to begin on 4 December 2023, and directed “the responsive
and redacted records must be provided to the prosecuting attorneys in a sealed
envelope by 14 November 2023.”
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II. DISCUSSION
A. Law
The All Writs Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1651(a), grants a Court of Criminal Appeals
(CCA) “authority to issue extraordinary writs necessary or appropriate in aid
of its jurisdiction.” Chapman v. United States, 75 M.J. 598, 600 (A.F. Ct. Crim.
App. 2016) (citing Loving v. United States, 62 M.J. 235, 246 (C.A.A.F. 2005)).
The purpose of a writ of mandamus is to “confine an inferior court to a lawful
exercise of its prescribed jurisdiction or to compel it to exercise its authority
when it is its duty to do so.” Roche v. Evaporated Milk Ass’n, 319 U.S. 21, 26
(1943) (citations omitted). In order to prevail on a petition for a writ of manda-
mus, the petitioner “must show that: (1) there is no other adequate means to
attain relief; (2) the right to issuance of the writ is clear and indisputable; and
(3) the issuance of the writ is appropriate under the circumstances.” Hasan v.
Gross, 71 M.J. 416, 418 (C.A.A.F. 2012) (citing Cheney v. United States Dist.
Court, 542 U.S. 367, 380–81 (2004)); see also In re KK, ___ M.J. ___, Misc. Dkt.
No. 2022-13, 2023 CCA LEXIS 31, at *10 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 24 Jan. 2023)
(holding traditional mandamus standard of review applicable to Article 6b(e),
UCMJ, petitions). A writ of mandamus “is a ‘drastic instrument which should
be invoked only in truly extraordinary situations.’” Howell v. United States, 75
M.J. 386, 390 (C.A.A.F. 2016) (quoting United States v. Labella, 15 M.J. 228,
229 (C.M.A. 1983)).
Article 6b(e)(1), UCMJ, 10 U.S.C. § 806b(e)(1), states:
If the victim of an offense under this chapter believes that . . . a
court-martial ruling violates the rights of the victim afforded by
a section (article) or rule specified in paragraph (4), the victim
may petition the [CCA] for a writ of mandamus to require the
. . . court-martial to comply with the section (article) or rule.
Article 6b(e)(4), UCMJ, provides that this right to petition the CCA for a
writ of mandamus applies with respect to protections afforded by, inter alia,
Article 6b, UCMJ, and Mil. R. Evid. 513.
Article 6b(a)(8), UCMJ, provides that the victim of an offense under the
UCMJ has, among other rights, “[t]he right to be treated with fairness and
with respect for the dignity and privacy of the victim . . . .”
“After service of charges, upon request of the defense, the Government shall
permit the defense to inspect any . . . papers, documents, [or] data . . . if the
item is within the possession, custody, or control of military authorities and [ ]
the item is relevant to defense preparation.” R.C.M. 701(a)(2)(A)(i). “The mili-
tary judge may, consistent with [R.C.M. 701], specify the time, place, and man-
ner of making discovery and may prescribe such terms and conditions as are
just.” R.C.M. 701(g)(1).
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Mil. R. Evid. 513(a) provides that, in general:
A patient has a privilege to refuse to disclose and to prevent any
other person from disclosing a confidential communication made
between the patient and a psychotherapist or an assistant to the
psychotherapist, in a case arising under the [UCMJ], if such
communication was made for the purpose of facilitating diagno-
sis or treatment of the patient’s mental or emotional condition.
“Before ordering the production or admission of evidence of a patient’s records
or communication, the military judge must conduct a hearing, which shall be
closed. . . . The patient must be afforded a reasonable opportunity to attend the
hearing and be heard.” Mil. R. Evid. 513(e)(2). The rule defines “[e]vidence of
a patient’s records or communications” as “testimony of a psychotherapist, or
assistant to the same, or patient records that pertain to communications by a
patient to a psychotherapist, or assistant to the same, for the purposes of diag-
nosis or treatment of the patient’s mental or emotional condition.” Mil. R. Evid.
513(b)(5). “The military judge may examine the evidence or a proffer thereof in
camera, if such examination is necessary to rule on the production or admissi-
bility of protected records or communications.” Mil. R. Evid. 513(e)(3). Mil. R.
Evid. 513(d) enumerates several exceptions to the psychotherapist-patient
privilege.
In Mellette, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
(CAAF) held “diagnoses and treatments contained within medical records [in-
cluding mental health records] are not themselves uniformly privileged under
[Mil. R. Evid.] 513.” 82 M.J. at 375. The CAAF explained, “[t]he phrase ‘com-
munication made between the patient and a psychotherapist’ [in Mil. R. Evid.
513(a)] does not naturally include other evidence, such as routine medical rec-
ords, that do not memorialize actual communications between the patient and
the psychotherapist.” 82 M.J. at 378.
B. Analysis
Petitioner asserts that, in issuing the order to produce certain of her mental
health records, the military judge erred in three general respects: (1) failing to
hold a hearing as required by Mil. R. Evid. 513; (2) failing to apply the process
and procedures required by R.C.M. 703(g)(3); and (3) issuing an order outside
the scope of the military judge’s authority. We are not persuaded Petitioner
has clearly and indisputably demonstrated she is entitled to relief on any of
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these bases. See Hasan, 71 M.J. at 418. We address each of Petitioner’s general
contentions in turn.2
1. Mil. R. Evid. 513
Petitioner suggests the military judge’s order directed disclosure of privi-
leged material to a third party in violation of Mil. R. Evid. 513; we are not
persuaded. Petitioner asserts the military judge “suggested to [g]overnment
[c]ounsel to consider the use of a ‘taint’ attorney as a method of redacting the
‘privileged’ from the non-privileged information; nevertheless, the production
of records to this third-party constitutes a disclosure under [Mil. R. Evid.]
513(a).” Petitioner contends the military judge thereby “divested himself of any
responsibility to abide by [Mil. R. Evid.] 513 and made the government counsel
devise a creative solution to get to the ‘non-privileged Mellette Records.’” How-
ever, Petitioner inaccurately characterizes the military judge’s order. The mil-
itary judge directed “[t]he appropriate medical professional, in coordination
with the medical law attorney,” to ensure the records produced were redacted
of material outside the scope of the order. Under the circumstances, a fair read-
ing of “the appropriate medical professional” would mean one who currently
has lawful custody of or access to the records. Moreover, the military judge did
not require any attorney to review the records, only that the medical profes-
sional redact the responsive records “in coordination” with a “medical law at-
torney.” We are not persuaded requiring a current custodian of the records to
review them for purposes of complying with court-martial discovery or produc-
tion is a “disclosure” of those records for purposes Mil. R. Evid. 513; nor are we
persuaded that having such a custodian receive legal advice in order to lawfully
comply with their obligations is a “disclosure” for such purposes.
Petitioner next argues Mil. R. Evid. 513(e)(2) required the military judge
to hold a hearing before ordering the production of records related to her men-
tal health diagnoses. She notes the rule defines “evidence of a patient’s records
or communications” as “testimony of a psychotherapist, or assistant to the
same, or patient records that pertain to communications by a patient to a psy-
chotherapist, or assistant to the same, for the purposes of diagnosis or
2 We note that at certain points, Petitioner’s supplemental brief contains language that
could be read to imply motives on the part of the military judge other than a good-faith
application of the law, and may be read to disparage “the military justice system.” Such
flourishes have no influence on the court’s resolution of the issues. However, although
the court expects and appreciates robust advocacy on behalf of clients, counsel are re-
minded of their obligation to “use language that is respectful of courts or tribunals
[and] the system of justice.” Air Force Instruction 51-110, Professional Responsibility
Program, Attachment 2, Air Force Standards for Civility in Professional Conduct, ¶ 24;
see also A.F. CT. CRIM. APP. 10.1 (requiring counsel before this court to comply with Air
Force Standards for Civility in Professional Conduct).
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treatment of the patient’s mental or emotional condition.” Mil. R. Evid.
513(b)(5) (emphasis added). Petitioner reasons that because interviewing the
patient is part of the preferred practice for making mental health diagnoses,
“patient records of a mental health diagnosis will pertain to [privileged] com-
munications.” However, this is not the interpretation of Mil. R. Evid. 513
adopted in Mellette, where the CAAF explained:
A patient’s diagnosis and the treatment that a patient received
to care for those conditions are “underlying facts,” [ ] not confi-
dential communications. Although [Mil. R. Evid.] 513(a) pre-
vents a witness from being required to disclose the substance of
the communications between a patient and a psychotherapist, it
does not extend to all evidence that might reveal a patient’s di-
agnoses and treatments.
82 M.J. at 380 (citation omitted). Thus, Mellette necessarily implies some men-
tal health records may reveal a patient’s diagnosis without “pertaining to” pro-
tected communications within the meaning of Mil. R. Evid. 513(b)(5). The mil-
itary judge’s order explicitly cited Mellette and excluded “confidential commu-
nications between [Petitioner] and any psychotherapist.” In other words, the
order was specifically crafted to exclude production of material privileged un-
der Mil. R. Evid. 513 as defined by Mellette. Because the order excluded—at
least facially—Mil. R. Evid. 513 privileged communications as defined by the
CAAF, the military judge did not clearly and indisputably err by not holding a
Mil. R. Evid. 513(e)(2) hearing.
Petitioner contends that distinguishing privileged from non-privileged ma-
terial is a “judicial function[ ]” that “should not [be] delegate[d] . . . to the trial
counsel or some unknown entity unaccountable to [the military judge’s] judi-
cial oversight.” It is true that “[n]ormally, in camera review is an appropriate
mechanism to resolve competing claims of privilege and right to review infor-
mation.” United States v. Wright, 75 M.J. 501, 510 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 2015)
(citations omitted). However, Mil. R. Evid. 513 does not mandate in camera
review to distinguish privileged and non-privileged mental health records. In-
stead, Mil. R. Evid. 513(e)(3) provides “[t]he military judge may examine the
evidence or a proffer thereof in camera, if such examination is necessary to rule
on the production or admissibility of protected records or communications,” but
only after the military judge finds by a preponderance of the evidence the mov-
ing party demonstrates four conditions are met. Thus, several significant qual-
ifiers or criteria apply when a party seeks in camera review under these cir-
cumstances. First, by using the term “may,” the rule permits (under certain
circumstances) rather than requires in camera review. Second, the military
judge may conduct in camera review if such review is “necessary” to make a
ruling. Third, the ruling in question is one that relates to the “production or
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admissibility of protected records or communications,” presumably pursuant to
an exception to the privilege; in the instant case, the military judge’s order
excluded rather than directed production of protected records or communica-
tions. Fourth, the moving party must show the four conditions of Mil. R. Evid.
513(e)(3)(A)–(D) have been met, including “that the requested information
meets one of the enumerated exceptions under [Mil. R. Evid. 513(d)].” Given
these qualifiers and conditions, under the applicable standard of review for
mandamus relief, we are not persuaded Petitioner has demonstrated she is
entitled to relief for the military judge’s failure to conduct in camera review.
Finally, Petitioner contends the language of Mellette itself “seems to allude”
to the requirement to apply Mil. R. Evid. 513(e) procedures before the produc-
tion of non-privileged evidence of mental health treatment and diagnoses. Pe-
titioner quotes the CAAF:
Before trial, Appellant filed a motion to compel production and
in camera review of “[the patient’s] mental health records: to in-
clude the dates visited said mental health provider, the treat-
ment provided and recommended, and her diagnosis.” . . . To the
extent that these documents existed—and were otherwise ad-
missible under the Military Rules of Evidence and the Rules for
Courts-Martial—they should have been produced or admitted
subject to the procedural requirements of M.R.E. 513(e).
Mellette, 82 M.J. at 381 (emphasis added). However, the CAAF’s language
must be read in the context of that case. In Mellette, the defense at trial sought
production of records that the Government argued, and the military judge held,
were subject to the Mil. R. Evid. 513 privilege. Id. at 376. Therefore, it was a
“case in which the production or admission of records or communications of a
patient” was “a matter in dispute,” Mil. R. Evid. 513(e)(1), which directly im-
plicated Mil. R. Evid. 513(e) procedures. In contrast, the instant case involves
an order that—at least facially—specifically excludes privileged “records or
communications of a patient” as defined by Mil. R. Evid. 513(b)(5) and inter-
preted by Mellette.
For the foregoing reasons, we find Petitioner has not demonstrated a clear
and indisputable right to relief on the basis that the military judge ordered
production of privileged material without following procedures required by Mil.
R. Evid. 513.
2. Application of R.C.M. 701 and R.C.M. 703
Petitioner makes several arguments to the general effect that the military
judge erred by treating her health records maintained by Air Force medical
groups as “within the possession, custody, or control of military authorities”
and therefore subject to discovery under R.C.M. 701(a)(2), without the
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procedures required for production of “[c]ivilians and witnesses not under the
control of the Government” under R.C.M. 703(g)(3). We have carefully consid-
ered Petitioner’s arguments; not all of them require discussion, but we address
the most significant points below.
As an initial matter, we note the military judge’s specific rationale for issu-
ing the order is not in the record before us. The attachments to the petition
imply the military judge may have given some direction to trial counsel to ob-
tain the records in question, leading trial counsel to request an order from the
military judge in support of their subpoena to the 47 MDG. However, we do not
have a ruling from the military judge on the Defense’s motion regarding Peti-
tioner’s mental health records. Nevertheless, it is apparent the military judge
ordered the medical groups to provide the subject records to trial counsel with-
out applying the procedures described in R.C.M. 703(g)(3), and we can address
the petition on that basis.
Petitioner presumes the military judge found her health records main-
tained by the Air Force medical groups were “within the possession, custody,
or control of military authorities” under R.C.M. 701(a)(2). She contends this
interpretation is contrary to the “plain meaning” of the term “military author-
ities,” which she argues should be understood to refer specifically to “military
law enforcement officials.” We disagree. This court addressed a similar argu-
ment in an Article 6b, UCMJ, petition in In re HVZ, Misc. Dkt. No. 2023-03,
2023 CCA LEXIS 292 (A.F. Ct. Crim. App. 14 Jul. 2023) (unpub. op.), rev.
granted, ___ M.J. ___, 2023 CAAF LEXIS 651 (C.A.A.F. 13 Sep. 2023). In that
case, the military judge specifically found the requested medical records and
non-privileged mental health records maintained by an Air Force medical
treatment facility were within the possession, custody, and control of military
authorities under R.C.M. 701(a)(2)(B). Id. at *4. This court found “the military
judge did not clearly and indisputably err by concluding that Petitioner’s rec-
ords ‘maintained’ by the [medical group]—a unit within the United States Air
Force—were within the ‘possession, custody, or control’ of a ‘military author-
ity.’” Id. at *13. We reach a similar conclusion here. Contrary to Petitioner’s
argument, the “plain meaning” of “military authority” would seem to include
an Air Force medical group operating on Laughlin AFB, see id. at *16, and
Petitioner’s arguments to the contrary are unpersuasive.
Petitioner further argues that in accordance with the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), Public Law 104-191, trial coun-
sel’s request for her mental health records from the 47 MDG was unauthorized.
Petitioner is correct that HIPAA applies to medical records under the control
of military treatment facilities. However, as this court has explained before,
HIPAA does not necessarily prohibit trial counsel from obtaining medical rec-
ords from a military treatment facility without the patient’s authorization. On
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the contrary, HIPAA, its implementing regulations, Article 46, UCMJ, 10
U.S.C. § 846, and R.C.M. 703(g)(2), in combination appear to permit such dis-
closure under certain conditions for a legitimate law enforcement purpose. See
In re AL, Misc. Dkt. No. 2022-12, 2022 CCA LEXIS 702, at *15 (A.F. Ct. Crim.
App. 7 Dec. 2022) (order), pet. granted in part, 83 M.J. 254 (C.A.A.F. 2023).
More significantly in this case, Department of Defense Manual (DoDM)
6025.18, Implementation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountabil-
ity Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rule in DoD Health Care Programs (13 Mar. 2019),
implementing HIPAA within the Department of Defense (DoD), provides at
¶ 4.4.e.(1)(a) that a “DoD covered entity may disclose PHI[3] in the course of
any judicial or administrative proceeding [ ] [i]n response to an order of a court
or administrative tribunal, provided that the DoD covered entity discloses only
the PHI expressly authorized by such order.” For disclosures under this provi-
sion, the DoDM does not require specific notification or an opportunity for the
subject of the PHI to respond. In the instant case, trial counsel’s subpoena was
accompanied by the military judge’s order, which brings it under this provi-
sion.4
Accordingly, we find Petitioner has not demonstrated a clear and indisput-
able right to relief on the basis the military judge erred by failing to apply the
procedures specified in R.C.M. 703(g)(3), or their equivalent.
3. Military Judge’s Authority to Issue Production Order
In addition to the preceding arguments, Petitioner contends the military
judge’s order to the medical groups was simply beyond the scope of his author-
ity. Petitioner quotes United States v. Weiss, where our superior court ex-
plained, “To the extent that [military judges] perform judicial duties such as
authorizing searches and reviewing pretrial confinement, their authority is not
inherent but is either delegated or granted by executive order.” 36 M.J. 224,
228 (C.M.A. 1992) (citations omitted). Petitioner argues military judges have
“authority over courts-martial proceedings, including the parties, but not over
all [Department of Defense] entities and servicemembers,” and in the instant
case the 47 MDG was “an entity not part of the military justice proceedings.”
Of course, the United States is a party to the pending court-martial; but it is
3 “PHI” is defined as “[i]ndividually identifiable health information that is transmitted
or maintained by electronic or any other form or medium.” DoDM) 6025.18, App G.2.
4 DoDM 6025.18 ¶ 4.4.e.(1)(b) permits disclosure “[i]n response to a subpoena, discov-
ery request, or other lawful process that is not accompanied by an order of a court or
administrative tribunal,” provided certain conditions identified in it are met, including
the provision of notice to the subject of the PHI and an opportunity to object. See id. at
¶ 4.4.e.(1)(b).
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unnecessary for us to conclude (and we do not conclude) the military judge has
broad or inherent authority over federal agencies in order to resolve the instant
petition. Instead, R.C.M. 701(g)(1)—established by executive order—author-
izes the military judge to, “consistent with [R.C.M. 701], specify the time, place,
and manner of making discovery and may prescribe such terms and conditions
as are just.” Under the standards applicable to mandamus relief, we find the
military judge’s specific authority to control discovery under R.C.M. 701(g)(1)
broad enough to encompass the military judge’s order to the medical groups,
such that Petitioner has failed to demonstrate her clear and indisputable right
to relief.
Petitioner additionally challenges “the inherent assumption in the order
that the [m]ilitary [j]udge could order a non-party, ‘medical law attorney’ to
look at and redact [Petitioner’s] privileged mental health records.” However,
Petitioner again inaccurately characterizes the order. As discussed supra, the
order does not require a “non-party” attorney to review or redact the records;
fairly read, it requires a records custodian to review and redact the records
with the benefit of legal advice, which does not necessarily require a “disclo-
sure” for purposes of Mil. R. Evid. 513. This is not a situation where the mili-
tary judge ordered an individual otherwise without access to privileged infor-
mation to review the privileged information, and for purposes of ruling on the
petition we decline to assume the responsible individuals will fail to abide by
the order, Mil. R. Evid. 513, or any other applicable legal authority.
Accordingly, we are not persuaded Petitioner has demonstrated the mili-
tary judge’s order was clearly and indisputably beyond his authority.
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III. CONCLUSION
Petitioner’s petition for extraordinary relief in form of writ of mandamus is
DENIED.5
FOR THE COURT
CAROL K. JOYCE
Clerk of the Court
5 Our ruling should be understood within the limited and specific context of a petition
for mandamus relief pursuant to Article 6b, UCMJ, and not as any broader indorse-
ment of the military judge’s course of action. As this court has stated before, we em-
phasize that “our conclusion that Petitioner has not met her burden to demonstrate
her clear and indisputable right to mandamus relief ‘is not a decision as to whether, in
other forums and under ordinary standards of review, Petitioner would be entitled to
relief.’” In re HVZ, unpub. op. at *16 n.4 (quoting In re AL, unpub. order at *14 n.3).
12