Opinion
No. CIV S-09-2389-CMK-P.
November 20, 2009
ORDER
Petitioner, a state prisoner proceeding pro se, brings this petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254.
The parties are informed that they may, if all consent in writing, have this case assigned to a United States Magistrate Judge for all purposes while preserving their right to appeal any final judgment directly to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit or, where appropriate, to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(c)(1), (3); see also Fed.R.Civ.P. 73(b)(1); E.D. Cal. Local Rule 73-305(a), (c). The parties are advised that they are free to withhold consent and that doing so shall not result in any adverse substantive consequences. See § 636(c)(2). If all parties consent to Magistrate Judge jurisdiction, the action will be reassigned to the undersigned for all purposes, including entry of final judgment. See Local Rule 73-301 and Local Rule 73-305(b).
A review of the record reflects that all parties to this action have not filed a written election regarding consent to the exercise of full jurisdiction by a Magistrate Judge. While petitioner has consented to Magistrate Judge jurisdiction, respondent has not made any election. The Clerk of the Court will be directed to provide the parties with the appropriate form which respondent shall then complete, indicating either consent or non-consent as he may choose, and file with the court.
Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. The Clerk of the Court is directed to forward to respondent the court's "Notice of Availability of a Magistrate Judge to Exercise Jurisdiction and Appeal Instructions" along with the accompanying consent election form; and
2. Respondent shall complete and file the consent election form within 30 days of the date of this order.