L. SCOTT COOGLER, District Judge.
This is an action for a writ of habeas corpus action filed by petitioner Corey Lamar Falconer ("Falconer"), pro se, on or about April 26, 2019. (Doc. 1; doc. 17 at 2 n.3). The petitioner challenges his 2016 conviction in Madison County Circuit Court for second degree assault. (Id. at 2). On December 9, 2019, the magistrate judge to whom the case was referred entered a report and recommendation pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(b), that the petitioner's habeas claims be dismissed as time-barred. (Doc. 17). Falconer filed timely objections. (Doc. 20).
In his objections, Falconer claims the magistrate judge erred by rendering moot his demand for an Article III judge to hear all proceedings. (Doc. 20 at 2). However, as explained to Falconer, the procedure utilized by this court is authorized by 28 U.S.C. § 636(b). (See doc. 5 at 1 n.1). Falconer's argument that federal magistrate judges are somehow under the domination and control of Alabama state officials or the Alabama Supreme Court (doc. 20 at 2-6) lacks merit and any basis in law or fact. The United States Supreme Court has authorized the very process utilized by this court, and courts nationally. Thomas v. Arn, 474 U.S. 140, 153 (1985) ("Although a magistrate is not an Article III judge ... a district court may refer dispositive motions to a magistrate for a recommendation so long as `the entire process takes place under the district court's total control and jurisdiction, and the judge exercise[s] the ultimate authority to issue an appropriate order.") (internal citations and quotation marks omitted).
As explained to Falconer in the "Notice of Right to Object" (doc. 17 at 9), a district court may "accept, reject, or modify" a magistrate judge's report and recommendation. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1). "A judge of the court shall make a de novo determination of those portions of the report or specified proposed findings or recommendations to which objection is made." Id. The district court finds nothing improper about the magistrate judge's issuance of a report and recommendation, nor does the court need Falconer's consent to utilize this procedure.
Falconer next challenges the finding that this petition is time-barred. (Doc. 20 at 6). He correctly asserts that his June 29, 2018, state court petition for collateral review paused the one year limitations period found in 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d) with 27 days remaining.
However, providing Falconer the benefit of the doubt, the magistrate judge further considered the effect of equitable tolling—if the petition for writ of mandamus filed with the Alabama Supreme Court on October 17, 2018, could be considered a tolling motion.
The petitioner novely claims that the state court judge's denial of his motion to proceed in forma pauperis on July 17, 2018, was unconstitutional, and thus an "impediment to filing" which statutorily tolled the time remaining on his one year limitation through the date of filing his petition here. (Doc. 20 at 9-10 (citing 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1)(B))). Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d)(1)(B), the statute begins to run on "the date on which the impediment to filing an application created by State action in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States is removed, if the applicant was prevented from filing by such State action." However, a state court's dismissal of a Rule 32 petition based on the denial of a motion to proceed in forma pauperis neither violates federal law nor impedes a petitioner's ability to file a federal habeas petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. See e.g., Kraft v. Stewart, 2018 WL 8918477, *2 (11th Cir. No. 28, 2018).
Even assuming the state court judge's denial of Falconer's motion to proceed in forma pauperis could fall within the realm of "unconstitutional," nothing in that ruling prevented the filing of a federal habeas petition.
Having carefully reviewed and considered de novo all the materials in the court file, including the petitioner's objections and the magistrate judge's Report and Recommendation, the court is of the opinion that the objections are due to be
A separate Final Order will be entered.