A common and often favorable outcome — but one that requires a few procedural follow-up steps.

It is quite common for a government respondent to adjudicate the underlying matter shortly after being served with a mandamus petition, effectively achieving the petitioner's practical goal without a contested court ruling.

The case typically becomes moot

Once the government has performed the requested action, there is generally no longer a live controversy for the court to resolve, and the government will often move to dismiss the case as moot, or the parties will agree to a voluntary dismissal.

Confirming the action fully resolves the matter

Before dismissing the case, petitioners should confirm the government's action genuinely resolves the underlying request — for example, verifying a decision was actually issued, not merely that some intermediate procedural step occurred.

Addressing attorney's fees before dismissal

Petitioners represented by counsel should discuss whether to pursue attorney's fees under an applicable fee-shifting statute before agreeing to dismiss the case, since dismissal timing and terms can affect eligibility for fee recovery.

What if only part of the request is granted

If the government's action only partially resolves the matter — for example, adjudicating one linked application but leaving another pending — petitioners can often narrow the case to the remaining live issues rather than dismissing it entirely.

Formalizing the resolution

Depending on the court and the parties' preference, the case may be closed through a stipulated dismissal, a joint status report followed by a dismissal order, or a settlement agreement memorializing the resolution.