Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-alnd-2_18-cv-01346/USCOURTS-alnd-2_18-cv-01346-0/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 530
Nature of Suit: Prisoner Petitions - Habeas Corpus
Cause of Action: 28:2254 Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (State)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA

SOUTHERN DIVISION

EARNEST J. FILES,

Petitioner,

v.

WARDEN GWENDOLYN GIVENS, 

et al.,

Respondents.

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Case No.: 2:18-cv-01346-LSC-HNJ

MEMORANDUM OPINION

Earnest J. Files, an Alabama state prisoner proceeding pro se, filed a petition and 

amended petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. (Docs. 1, 

2). On November 22, 2019, the magistrate judge entered a report recommending the 

court grant Respondents’ motion for summary dismissal and dismiss the petitions with 

prejudice as unexhausted and procedurally defaulted. (Doc. 18). The magistrate judge 

advised the parties of their right to file specific written objections within fourteen (14) 

days. (Id. at 9). On December 9, 2019, the magistrate judge granted Files’s motion for 

an extension of time to file objections, in part, and ordered Files to file objections within

fourteen days of the entry date of the order. (Doc. 20). Instead of filing objections, 

Files petitions the court for a writ of habeas corpus ad testificandum directing 

Respondents to bring him before the court and moves for leave to file an amended 

petition. (Docs. 21, 22). 

FILED

 2020 Jan-22 AM 09:55

U.S. DISTRICT COURT

N.D. OF ALABAMA

Case 2:18-cv-01346-LSC-HNJ Document 23 Filed 01/22/20 Page 1 of 2
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The court DENIES Files’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus ad testificandum. 

Moreover, Files’s proposed amended petition, (doc. 22), is a nearly verbatim copy of 

his first amended petition which this court has considered. Accordingly, the court 

DENIES Files’s motion for leave to file an amended petition. 

Having carefully reviewed and considered de novo all the materials in the court 

file, including the report and recommendation, the court ADOPTS the magistrate 

judge’s findings and ACCEPTS his recommendation. Respondents’ motion for 

summary dismissal is due to be granted and Files’s petition and amended petition for a 

writ of habeas corpus are due to be dismissed with prejudice as unexhausted and 

procedurally defaulted. The court denies a certificate of appealability.

The court will enter a separate order. 

DONE and ORDERED on January 22, 2020.

_____________________________

L. Scott Coogler

United States District Judge

160704

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