The opinion
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN
SOUTHERN DIVISION
JAMES DRANE,
Petitioner, Civil No. 2:20-CV-10114
HONORABLE DENISE PAGE HOOD
v. UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
MIKE BROWN,
Respondent,
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OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING RESPONDENT’S
MOTION FOR AN EXTENSION OF TIME TO FILE AN ANSWER
Before the Court is Respondent’s motion for an extension of time to file a
responsive pleading to the petition for writ of habeas corpus. The motion is
GRANTED.
A federal court has discretion in extending the time for a state to file a
response to a habeas corpus petition. See Whitfield v. Martin, 157 F. Supp. 2d 758,
761 (E.D. Mich. 2001). Rule 4 of the Rules Governing Section 2254 cases gives a
federal court discretion to take into account various factors such as the
respondent’s workload and availability of transcripts before determining the time
when an answer must be made. See Kramer v. Jenkins, 108 F.R.D. 429, 432 (N.D.
Ill. 1985). This Court finds that ninety days is a reasonable time in which to
request a response in this case, taking into account the complexity of the petition,
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the ability of the respondent to acquire the relevant documentary evidence, and the
current caseload of the Attorney General’s Office. See Hudson v. Helman, 948 F.
Supp. 810, 811 (C.D. Ill. 1996).
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that Respondent’s Motion for An Extension
of Time (ECF No. 13) is GRANTED. Respondent shall have ninety (90) days
from the date of this order to file an answer to the petition for writ of habeas corpus
and the Rule 5 materials.
s/Denise Page Hood
United States District Judge
DATED: December 29, 2022
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