Reported / Citable
Background
Michael Edward Harssema, a Texas prisoner, filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254 against the Director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Correctional Institutions Division.
The matter was referred to a United States magistrate judge under 28 U.S.C. § 636. On September 4, 2026, the magistrate judge recommended denying the petition and dismissing the case with prejudice. No timely objections were filed.
The Court’s Holding
District Judge Amos L. Mazzant adopted the magistrate judge’s report and recommendation as the findings and conclusions of the court.
The court denied Harssema’s Section 2254 petition and dismissed the action with prejudice. It also denied a certificate of appealability and denied as moot any request for relief not addressed in the report.
Key Takeaways
- The district court adopted the magistrate judge’s recommendation after no timely objections were filed.
- Harssema’s federal habeas petition under Section 2254 was denied and dismissed with prejudice.
- The court denied a certificate of appealability.
Why It Matters
The order ends Harssema’s federal habeas case in the district court and bars relitigation of the dismissed petition. The denial of a certificate of appealability means an appeal cannot proceed unless a court grants one.