Opinion
3:07CV209-W-02, (3:03CR181-1-W).
October 2, 2007
ORDER
THIS MATTER comes before the Court on the petitioner's "Motion For Relief By A Person In Federal Custody Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2255," filed May 21, 2007 (document # 1); and on the "Government's Response To Petitioner's Motion to Vacate . . ." and its "Motion For Summary Judgment," both filed September 19, 2007 (documents ## 3 and 4). After careful consideration of the foregoing documents, the Court has determined that the government may be entitled to summary judgment as a matter of law.
PETITIONER THOMPSON, PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY:
The petitioner is advised that under the provisions of Rule 56(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, he is required to submit documents, affidavits, or unsworn declarations made under penalty of perjury, in opposition to the Motion for Summary Judgment and supporting documents filed by the government. Rule 56(e) reads in pertinent part as follows:
When a motion for summary judgment is made and supported [by affidavits], an adverse party may not rest upon the mere allegations or denials of his pleadings, but his response, by affidavits or as otherwise provided by this rule, must set forth specific facts showing that there is genuine issue for trial. If he does not respond, summary judgment, if appropriate, shall be entered against him.
This rule requires that if the petitioner has any evidence to offer to counter the evidence contained in the Motion for Summary Judgment and supporting documents filed by the government, he must present it to the Court in the form of documents, affidavits, or unsworn declarations under penalty of perjury. An affidavit is a written statement made under oath; that is, a statement prepared in writing by the petitioner and sworn before a Notary Public. If the petitioner chooses, he may instead submit an unsworn declaration and state the following with the date and his signature:
"I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct."
The petitioner is further hereby advised that he has thirty (30) days from the date of the filing of this Order in which to file such documents, affidavits, or unsworn declarations in opposition to the government's Motion for Summary Judgment. FAILURE TO RESPOND WITHIN THIS TIME PERIOD MAY SUBJECT THIS ACTION TO SUMMARY JUDGMENT. NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that the petitioner has thirty (30) days from the date of the filing of this Order in which to file a response, providing his own documents, affidavits, or declarations to counter the evidence which is forecast by the government's Motion for Summary Judgment.
SO ORDERED.