ORDER

DEBORAH BARNES, Magistrate Judge.

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding through counsel with an action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983. On December 8, 2017, defendants filed a motion for summary judgment. (ECF No. 62.) On December 21 and again on January 26, the parties filed stipulations to extend the time for filing the opposing and reply briefs. (ECF Nos. 63, 65.) Based on the parties' stipulations, plaintiff's opposition brief was due on February 26, 2018.1 In an order signed March 5, 2018 and filed March 6, the court required plaintiff to show cause why this case should not be dismissed for his failure to file an opposition to defendants' summary judgment motion. (ECF No. 70.) Also on March 5, plaintiff filed a motion for an order shortening time to hear his motion for an extension of time to file an opposition. (ECF No. 69.) Based on plaintiff's motion, the court will vacate the order to show cause.

In counsel's declaration attached to the motion for an order shortening time, plaintiff's counsel states that she contacted counsel for defendants and was told defendants were "not sure" if they would oppose shortened time. (ECF No. 69-1 at 2.) However, it does not appear that plaintiff's counsel asked defendants' counsel whether defendants would stipulate to a third extension of time to file an opposition to the motion for summary judgment. In addition, plaintiff's counsel has not provided a copy of the motion for an extension of time to file an opposition.

The court finds a formal motion and shortened time are not typically necessary where one party seeks an extension of time. The better course is to seek a stipulation from the opposing side for the extension of time and, if the opposing party is unwilling to stipulate, a motion for an extension of time.

Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that: