Summary
stating that "probation or parole qualifies as `in custody'" for purposes of section 2254, and finding that since petitioner "filed his petition while on parole, he was `in custody' and satisfies [the requirement of custody under section 2254]"
Summary of this case from McBean v. WardenOpinion
03 Civ. 3303 (KMW) (RLE).
November 5, 2007
ORDER
Pro se Petitioner seeks a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. On November 4, 1998, Petitioner pled guilty to one count of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree in New York State Supreme Court, New York County. Petitioner alleges that his constitutional rights were violated because (1) at a suppression hearing, the trial court prevented his counsel from impeaching a defense witness and then refused to admit the impeachment material as evidence; and (2) when Petitioner waived his right to appeal upon pleading guilty, he did not understand that the waiver encompassed all aspects of his case. By report and recommendation dated September 7, 2007 (the "Report"), Magistrate Judge Ronald L. Ellis recommended that the Court dismiss Petitioner's habeas petition.
The Report informed the parties that, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1) and Rule 72(b), in conjunction with Rules 6(a) and 6(e), of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, they had ten days from service of the Report to serve and file any objections. The Report explicitly cautioned that failure to file timely objections would preclude appellate review.
No objections have been filed, and the time to object has expired. See IUE AFL-CIO Pension Fund v. Herrmann, 9 F.3d 1049, 1054 (2d Cir. 1993). The Second Circuit "ha[s] adopted the rule that failure to object timely to a magistrate's report operates as a waiver of any further judicial review of the magistrate's decision," Small v. Sec'y of Health Human Servs., 892 F.2d 15, 16 (2d Cir. 1989); "[t]he Supreme Court upheld this practice, at least when the parties receive clear notice of the consequences of their failure to object," id. (citing Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 155 (1985)). Furthermore, the Court has reviewed the Report, and finds it free of any "clear error on the face of the record." Fed.R.Civ.P. 72(b) advisory committee's note; see also Nelson v. Smith, 618 F. Supp. 1186, 1189 (S.D.N.Y. 1985). In particular, the Court notes that the New York Appellate Decision's holding that Petitioner validly waived his appeal rights is neither contrary to nor an unreasonable application of federal law. See 28 U.S.C. 2254(d)(1); Nicholas v. Smith, No. 02 CV 64112007, 2007 WL 1213417, at *9-11 (E.D.N.Y. Apr. 24, 2007). The Court therefore accepts and adopts the Report.
Accordingly, the Court denies the petition for habeas corpus. The Clerk of the Court is directed to close this case. Any pending motions are moot.
SO ORDERED.