Garry Alston, Petitioner--appellant, v. Tenita M. Solanto; Robert L. Alley; Michael Parker, D.a.;ruth B. Kirkham; Lacy N. Thornburg, Respondents--appellees, 67 F.3d 293 (4th Cir. 1995)
Annotate this CaseGarry Alston, Appellant Pro Se. Richard Norwood League, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NORTH CAROLINA, Raleigh, North Carolina, for Appellees.
Before WILKINS, HAMILTON, and MICHAEL, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:
Garry Alston petitions this court pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) (5) (1988) for leave to appeal a decision of the district court affirming the magistrate judge's order denying relief on his 28 U.S.C. § 2254 (1988) petition.* Because Alston has failed to present a substantial question of law for review, we deny a certificate of probable cause to appeal and dismiss the petition for leave to appeal. See Adams v. Heckler, 794 F.2d 303, 309 (7th Cir. 1986) (holding that petitions for leave to appeal under 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) (5) should only be granted in cases involving substantial and important questions of law); Wolff v. Wolff, 768 F.2d 642, 647 (5th Cir. 1985) (same). We dispense with oral argument because the facts and legal contentions are adequately presented in the materials before the court and argument would not aid the decisional process.
DISMISSED.
The parties consented to the jurisdiction of the magistrate judge with appeal to the district court. See 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) (4). In these circumstances, the final judgment entered on the district court's decision "may be reviewed by the appropriate United States court of appeals upon petition for leave to appeal by a party stating specific objections to the judgment." 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) (5); see Fed. R. App. P. 5.1(a). Appellant filed a notice of appeal, which does not satisfy this requirement. See Adams v. Heckler, 794 F.2d 303, 308 (7th Cir. 1986); Moore McCormack Lines, Inc. v. International Terminal Operating Co., 784 F.2d 1542, 1544 (2d Cir. 1986). The defect is not jurisdictional, however, and we have discretion to treat Appellant's notice of appeal as a petition for leave to appeal. See Moore McCormack Lines, Inc., 784 F.2d at 1545. We have done so
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