Opinion
Civil Action No. 3:10-cv-1995-O
10-25-2011
MONTA DRINKARD, #38616-177, Petitioner, v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, Respondent.
ORDER ACCEPTING FINDINGS, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATION OF
THE UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE, AND DENYING A CERTIFICATE OF
APPEALABILITY
The United States Magistrate Judge made findings, conclusions, and a recommendation in this case. Petitioner filed objections. However, Petitioner has failed to identify the specific finding or recommendation to which objection is made, state the basis for such objection, or specify the place in the Magistrate Judge's report and recommendation where the disputed determination is found. Accordingly, the Court has reviewed the Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendation for plain error. Finding none, the Court ACCEPTS the Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendation of the United States Magistrate Judge. Even if Petitioner's objections were sufficiently specific to trigger de novo review, the Court finds in the alternative that the Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendation are correct. Accordingly, Petitioner's objections are OVERRULED, and the Court ACCEPTS the Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendation of the United States Magistrate Judge.
Considering the record in this case and pursuant to Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 22(b), Rule 11(a) of the Rules Governing Section 2255 Proceedings for the United States District Court, and 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c), the Court DENIES a certificate of appealability. The Court adopts and incorporates by reference the Magistrate Judge's Findings, Conclusions and Recommendation filed in this case in support of its finding that the petitioner has failed to show (1) that reasonable jurists would find this Court's "assessment of the constitutional claims debatable or wrong," or (2) that reasonable jurists would find "it debatable whether the petition states a valid claim of the denial of a constitutional right" and "debatable whether [this Court] was correct in its procedural ruling." Slack v. McDaniel, 529 U.S. 473, 484 (2000).
Rule 11 of the Rules Governing §§ 2254 and 2255 Proceedings, as amended effective on December 1, 2009, reads as follows:
(a) Certificate of Appealability. The district court must issue or deny a certificate of appealability when it enters a final order adverse to the applicant. Before entering the final order, the court may direct the parties to submit arguments on whether a certificate should issue. If the court issues a certificate, the court must state the specific issue or issues that satisfy the showing required by 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). If the court denies a certificate, the parties may not appeal the denial but may seek a certificate from the court of appeals under Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 22. A motion to reconsider a denial does not extend the time to appeal.
(b) Time to Appeal. Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(a) governs the time to appeal an order entered under these rules. A timely notice of appeal must be filed even if the district court issues a certificate of appealability.
In the event Petitioner files a notice of appeal, he/she will need to pay the $455.00 appellate filing fee or submit a motion to proceed in forma pauperis.
Reed O'Connor
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE