Opinion
No. 08 Civ. 3230 (LTS)(HBP)
12-16-2011
ALEXANDER SCREAHBEN, Petitioner, v. ROBERT ERCOLE, Respondent.
ORDER ADOPTING REPORT & RECOMMENDATION
The Court has reviewed Magistrate Judge Pitman's November 16, 2011, Report and Recommendation (the "Report"), which recommends that the Court deny the instant petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2554. Screahben's petition seeks to vacate a judgment of conviction entered against him by the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Bronx County, on December 10, 2004. Neither party filed objections to the Report.
In reviewing a report and recommendation, a district court "may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part, the findings or recommendations made by the magistrate judge." 28 U.S.C.A. § 636(b)(1)(C) (West 2006). Where neither party files timely specific objections to the magistrate judge's report and recommendation, a district court need only determine that the recommendation is not clearly erroneous or contrary to the law. Arista Records LLC v. Doe. 604 F.3d 110, 117 (2d Cir. 2010); see FED. R. CIV. P. 72. "When a party makes only conclusory or general objections ... the Court reviews the Report only for clear error." Pettaway v. Brown. No. 09 Civ. 3587 (LTS)(JCF), 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 123854, at *2 (S.D.N.Y. Oct. 26, 2011).
The Court has reviewed carefully Judge Pitman's Report and finds no clear error. The Court therefore adopts the Report in its entirety and denies the petition for the reasons stated therein. The petitioner may not appeal this order to the Court of Appeals unless "a circuit justice or judge issues a certificate of appealability." 28 U.S.C.A. § 2253(c)(1) (West 1994 & Supp. 2002). A certificate will be granted, "only if the applicant has made a substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right." 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2); see generally United States v. Perez. 129 F.3d 255, 259-60 (2d Cir. 1997) (discussing the standard for issuing a certificate of appealability). As the petition makes no substantial showing of a denial of a constitutional right, a certificate of appealability will not issue.
The Court certifies pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a)(3) that any appeal from this order would not be taken in good faith, and therefore in forma pauperis status is denied for the purpose of an appeal. See Coppedge v. United States. 369 U.S. 438, 444-45 (1962).
The Clerk of the Court is respectfully requested to enter judgment denying the petition, and close this case.
SO ORDERED.
Dated: New York, New York
December 16, 2011
_________________________
LAURA TAYLOR SWAIN
United States District Judge