Opinion
Civil Action No.: 6:15-cv-04419-RBH
01-19-2017
Gwendolyn Delones Johnson, Plaintiff, v. Carolyn W. Colvin, Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration, Defendant.
ORDER
Plaintiff Gwendolyn Delones Johnson seeks judicial review of a final decision of the Commissioner of the Social Security Administration denying her claims for disability insurance benefits and supplemental security income benefits. The matter is before the Court for review of the Report and Recommendation (R & R) of United States Magistrate Judge Kevin F. McDonald, made in accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) and Local Civil Rule 73.02(B)(2)(a) for the District of South Carolina. See R & R, ECF No. 22. The Magistrate Judge recommends that the Court affirm the Commissioner's final decision. R & R at 25.
The Magistrate Judge makes only a recommendation to the Court. The recommendation has no presumptive weight, and the responsibility to make a final determination remains with the Court. Mathews v. Weber, 423 U.S. 261, 270-71 (1976). The Court must conduct a de novo review of those portions of the R & R to which specific objections are made, and it may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the recommendation of the Magistrate Judge or recommit the matter with instructions. 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).
Neither party has filed objections to the R & R, and the time for doing so has expired. In the absence of objections to the R & R, the Court is not required to give any explanation for adopting the Magistrate Judge's recommendation. See Camby v. Davis, 718 F.2d 198, 199-200 (4th Cir. 1983). The Court reviews only for clear error in the absence of an objection. See Diamond v. Colonial Life & Acc. Ins. Co., 416 F.3d 310, 315 (4th Cir. 2005) (stating that "in the absence of a timely filed objection, a district court need not conduct de novo review, but instead must 'only satisfy itself that there is no clear error on the face of the record in order to accept the recommendation'" (quoting Fed. R. Civ. P. 72 advisory committee's note)).
Objections were due by January 17, 2017. See ECF No. 22. Plaintiff filed a notice stating she would not be filing objections to the R & R. See ECF No. 23. --------
After a thorough review of the record in this case, the Court finds no clear error and therefore adopts and incorporates by reference the Magistrate Judge's R & R [ECF No. 22]. Accordingly, the Court AFFIRMS the Commissioner's final decision.
IT IS SO ORDERED. Florence, South Carolina
January 19, 2017
s/ R. Bryan Harwell
R. Bryan Harwell
United States District Judge