Document ID: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-arwd-6_07-cv-06012/USCOURTS-arwd-6_07-cv-06012-1/pdf.json

Parties Involved:
Larry Norris
Defendant
William Greg Smith
Petitioner

Document Text:

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

WESTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS

HOT SPRINGS DIVISION

WILLIAM GREG SMITH PETITIONER

v. Civil No. 6:07-cv-6012

 

LARRY NORRIS, Director,

Arkansas Department of Correction RESPONDENT

MAGISTRATE JUDGE'S REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

Petitioner, WILLIAM GREG SMITH, an inmate confined in the Arkansas Department of

Corrections, filed this petition for writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. The matter

has been referred for findings of fact, conclusions of law and recommendations for the disposition

of the case. Pending before the Court is the Petitioner’s Motion for Default Judgment. (Docket #

10). 

Discussion: 

The Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus was filed in this case on March 1, 2007. (Docket

# 1). On that day the Court ordered the United States Marshal to serve the Respondent with a copy

of the Petition and further ordered the Respondent to file his answer to the Petitioner within twenty (20)

days of the date of service. Respondent was served with a copy of the Petition and the Order to

Answer on March 9, 2007. (Docket # 8). Respondent filed his Response to Petition for Writ of Habeas

Corpus on March 26, 2007. (Docket # 7). 

On March 26, 2007, Petitioner filed his Motion for Default Judgment, alleging the Respondent

should have answered within twenty (20) days of the entry of the Order to Answer. Petitioner is

incorrect. The Order to answer directed an answer within twenty (20) days of the date of service of the

order. Respondent was served on March 9, 2007, and answered some seventeen (17) days later. 

Case 6:07-cv-06012-RTD Document 12 Filed 03/28/07 Page 1 of 2 PageID #: <pageID>
-2-

Therefore, Respondent is not in default and entry of a default judgment is not warranted.

Recommendation: 

Accordingly, based on the foregoing, it is recommended the Petitioner’s Motion for Default

Judgment, (Docket # 10) be DENIED.

The parties have ten (10) days from receipt of this report and recommendation in which

to file written objections pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). The failure to file timely objections

may result in waiver of the right to appeal questions of fact. The parties are reminded that

objections must be both timely and specific to trigger de novo review by the district court.

DATED this 28 day of March, 2007. th

 /s/ Barry A. Bryant 

HON. BARRY A. BRYANT

U.S. MAGISTRATE JUDGE

Case 6:07-cv-06012-RTD Document 12 Filed 03/28/07 Page 2 of 2 PageID #: <pageID>