Ballas 492046 v. Horton

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT WESTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN NORTHERN DIVISION ______ JOSEPH P. BALLAS, Petitioner, Case No. 2:21-cv-247 v. Honorable Maarten Vermaat CONNIE HORTON, Respondent. ____________________________/ OPINION This is a habeas corpus action brought by a state prisoner under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Petitioner has consented to the conduct of all proceedings in this case, including entry of a final judgment and all post-judgment motions, by a United States Magistrate Judge. (ECF No. 4.) Promptly after the filing of a petition for habeas corpus, the Court must undertake a preliminary…