Reported / Citable
Background
Devin Taylor filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus against the Sheriff of Grayson County. The district court referred the matter to a U.S. magistrate judge under 28 U.S.C. § 636.
On October 9, 2026, the magistrate judge recommended dismissing the petition without prejudice and denying a certificate of appealability. No timely objections were filed. A copy of the recommendation was returned as undeliverable on October 23 with a notation that Taylor had been released on April 23, 2026, and Taylor had not updated his address with the court.
The Court’s Holding
District Judge Sean D. Jordan concluded that the magistrate judge’s findings and conclusions were correct. Because no timely objections had been filed, the court adopted the report’s findings and conclusions.
The court dismissed Taylor’s habeas petition without prejudice, denied a certificate of appealability, and denied all motions by either party that had not previously been resolved.
Key Takeaways
- The district court adopted the magistrate judge’s unopposed report and recommendation.
- Taylor’s habeas petition was dismissed without prejudice.
- The court denied a certificate of appealability and all unresolved motions.
Why It Matters
The order resolves the federal habeas proceeding on the magistrate judge’s recommendation after no timely objections were filed. The brief opinion does not state the underlying grounds for the recommended dismissal.
The returned mail also underscores the procedural importance of keeping the court informed of a current address, although the order does not expressly identify Taylor’s failure to update his address as the basis for dismissal.