Bullock v. Clarke

CourtDistrict Court, E.D. Virginia
DecidedMarch 1, 2021
Docket3:19-cv-00945
StatusUnknown

This text of Bullock v. Clarke (Bullock v. Clarke) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court, E.D. Virginia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bullock v. Clarke, (E.D. Va. 2021).

Opinion

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF VIRGINIA Richmond Division TIMOTHY BULLOCK, Petitioner, Civil Action No. 3:19CV945 HAROLD W. CLARKE, Respondent. MEMORANDUM OPINION Timothy Bullock, a Virginia inmate proceeding pro se, filed this petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 challenging his 2015 convictions for first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond. Bullock pled guilty to those two charges pursuant to a written plea agreement. On February 3, 2021, the Magistrate Judge issued a Report and Recommendation wherein she recommended dismissing the § 2254 Petition as untimely. (ECF No. 15.) The Court advised Bullock that he could file objections within fourteen (14) days after the entry of the Report and Recommendation. Bullock has not responded. “The magistrate [judge] makes only a recommendation to this court. The recommendation has no presumptive weight, and the responsibility to make a final determination remains with this court.” Estrada v. Witkowski, 816 F. Supp. 408, 410 (D.S.C. 1993) (citing Mathews v. Weber, 423 U.S. 261, 270-71 (1976)). This Court “shall make a de novo determination of those portions of the report or specified proposed findings or recommendations to which objection is made.” 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). “The filing of objections to a magistrate’s report enables the district judge to focus attention on those issues—factual and legal—that are at the heart of the parties’ dispute.” Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 147 (1985) (footnote omitted). In the absence of a specific written objection, this Court may adopt a magistrate judge's

recommendation without conducting a de novo review. See Diamond v. Colonial Life & Accident Ins. Co., 416 F.3d 310, 316 (4th Cir. 2005). There being no objections, and the Court having determined that the Report and Recommendation is correct on its merits, the Report and Recommendation (ECF No. 15) will be ACCEPTED and ADOPTED. Bullock’s claims and the action will be DISMISSED. A certificate of appealability will be DENIED. An appropriate Order will accompany this Memorandum Opinion.

/p/ M. Hannah La United States Districtudge Date: G- | Q. | Richmond, Virginia

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Related

Mathews v. Weber
423 U.S. 261 (Supreme Court, 1976)
Thomas v. Arn
474 U.S. 140 (Supreme Court, 1986)
Estrada v. Witkowski
816 F. Supp. 408 (D. South Carolina, 1993)

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Bluebook (online)
Bullock v. Clarke, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bullock-v-clarke-vaed-2021.