EDWARDS v. JONES

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF GEORGIA
VALDOSTA DIVISION
JAMES BERNARD EDWARDS, :
:
Petitioner, :
:
v. : Case No. 7:25-cv-84-WLS-ALS
:
Warden DESHAWN JONES, :
:
Respondent. :
________________________________
NOTIFICATION OF MOTION TO DISMISS
On February 9, 2026, Respondent filed a motion to dismiss (Doc. 17) the above-styled
petition. The Court is required to adequately advise Petitioner of the significance of Respondent’s
motion. See Griffith v. Wainwright, 772 F.2d 822, 825 (11th Cir. 1985). To afford Petitioner, who
is proceeding pro se, adequate notice and time to respond to Respondent’s motion, the following
notice is given.
Under the procedures and policies of this Court, motions to dismiss are normally decided
on briefs. The Court considers the pleadings and the petition in deciding whether dismissal is
appropriate. The parties may submit their argument to this Court by filing briefs in support of or
briefs in opposition to said motions. The law provides that the party against whom dismissal is
sought must be given ten (10) days-notice of the dismissal rules. In addition, the party upon whom
a motion to dismiss has been filed has the right to file a brief in opposition to a motion to dismiss.
If he fails to file a brief in opposition to the motion to dismiss, a final judgment may be rendered
against him if otherwise appropriate under law.
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THE FAILURE OF PETITIONER TO RESPOND TO AND REBUT THE
ARGUMENTS IN RESPONDENT’S BRIEF MAY RESULT IN SAID STATEMENTS
BEING ACCEPTED AS UNCONTESTED AND CORRECT.
The Court could grant judgment to Respondent and there would be no trial or further
proceedings. Accordingly, Petitioner is NOTIFIED of his right to file a response to Respondent’s
motion to dismiss. Petitioner should file any desired response WITHIN TWENTY-ONE (21)
DAYS of the date of this Order. Respondent may file any desired reply within fourteen (14) days
of Petitioner’s response. Thereafter, the Court will consider Respondent’s motion to dismiss (Doc.
17) and any opposition to the same filed by Petitioner.
SO ORDERED, this 10th day of February, 2026.
s/ ALFREDA L. SHEPPARD
UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE
Case 7:25-cv-00084-WLS-ALS Document 19 Filed 02/10/26 Page 2 of 2