REPORT AND RECOMMENDATION

LEO I. BRISBOIS, Magistrate Judge.

This matter comes before the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge pursuant to a general assignment in accordance with the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636 and Local Rule 72.1, as well as, upon Petitioner Thomas James Fox's Motion for Extension of Time, [Docket No. 1], which he appears to, at least partially, characterize as a petition for writ of habeas corpus.

Petitioner requests additional time in which to file a petition for a writ of habeas corpus pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. (See, Motion [Docket No. 1]). That request must be denied.

The limitations period for the filing of habeas petitions is established by statute, see, 28 U.S.C. § 2244(d), and the Court is without authority to extend that statutory limitations period. Further, although equitable tolling of the statutory limitations period is available to petitioners under certain circumstances, the Court may permit equitable tolling only where a petitioner can show that he has diligently pursued his rights. See, Earl v. Fabian, 556 F.3d 717, 722 (8th Cir. 2009). The Court cannot know whether Fox was diligent in timely pursuing his rights through the time he files his habeas petition until he actually files that petition.

Accordingly, Fox's Motion for an Extension of Time, [Docket No. 1], must be denied. It is further recommended that since the Motion for an Extension of Time is the only relief sought in this case, denial of that motion disposes of this present matter and the case should therefore be closed.1

Therefore, based on the foregoing, and on all of the files, records, and proceedings herein, IT IS HEREBY RECOMMENDED THAT Fox's Motion for an Extension of Time, [Docket No. 1], be DENIED.