Williams v. Reynolds

Filing 43

OPINION AND ORDER adopting 35 Report and Recommendation of Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker; granting 23 Motion for Summary Judgment. This matter is dismissed with prejudice. Signed by Honorable Cameron McGowan Currie on 7/12/2017.(ssam, )

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF SOUTH CAROLINA
CHARLESTON DIVISION
Darrell Williams, #219730,

C/A No. 2:16-2835-CMC

Plaintiff
v.
Opinion and Order
Cecelia Reynolds, Warden,
Defendant.

This matter is before the court on Petitioner’s pro se petition for writ of habeas corpus,
filed in this court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254.
In accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 636(b) and Local Civil Rule 73.02(B)(2)(c), DSC, this
matter was referred to United States Magistrate Judge Mary Gordon Baker for pre-trial
proceedings and a Report and Recommendation.

Respondent filed a motion for summary

judgment on January 6, 2017. ECF No. 23. After a Roseboro Order was entered, Petitioner filed
a response in opposition. ECF No. 27. Respondent filed a reply (ECF No. 28) and Petitioner
filed a sur reply (ECF No. 29). On May 24, 2017, the Magistrate Judge issued a Report
recommending Respondent’s motion for summary judgment be granted. ECF No. 9. The
Magistrate Judge advised the parties of the procedures and requirements for filing objections to
the Report and Recommendation and the serious consequences if they failed to do so. Petitioner
has not filed objections to the Report, and the time for doing so has passed.1

1

Petitioner’s deadline for objections was extended after an appeal to this court of the Magistrate
Judge’s order denying Petitioner’s motion for discovery. That decision was affirmed by order on
June 14, 2017. ECF No. 40. In that order, the court extended Petitioner’s time to respond to the
Footnote Continued . . .

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 the
court. See Mathews v. Weber, 423 U.S. 261 (1976). The court is charged with making a de novo
determination of any portion of the Report and Recommendation of the Magistrate Judge to
which a specific objection is made. The court may accept, reject, or modify, in whole or in part,
the recommendation made by the Magistrate Judge or recommit the matter to the Magistrate
Judge with instructions. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b).
After reviewing the entire record, the applicable law, and the Report of the Magistrate
Judge, the court finds no clear error. Accordingly, the Report of the Magistrate Judge is adopted
and incorporate by reference. Respondent’s motion for summary judgment is granted, and this
matter is dismissed with prejudice.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
s/ Cameron McGowan Currie
CAMERON MCGOWAN CURRIE
Senior United States District Judge
Columbia, South Carolina
July 12, 2017

Report until 14 days following entry of the Order. As the Order was entered on June 14,
Petitioner had until June 30 to file his objections.
2