UNPUBLISHED

UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT

No. 02-7339

BRUCE JEROME HOLMES,

Petitioner - Appellant,

versus

J. C. WILSON, Superintendent,

Respondent - Appellee.

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, at Greensboro. James A. Beaty, Jr., District Judge. (CA-02-577-1)

Submitted: December 16, 2002 Decided: December 20, 2002

Before LUTTIG, MICHAEL, and MOTZ, Circuit Judges.

Dismissed by unpublished per curiam opinion.

Bruce Jerome Holmes, Appellant Pro Se. Clarence Joe DelForge, III, OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NORTH CAROLINA, Raleigh, North Carolina, for Appellee.

Unpublished opinions are not binding precedent in this circuit. See Local Rule 36(c). PER CURIAM:

Bruce Jerome Holmes seeks to appeal the district court’s order

affirming the magistrate judge’s order denying his motion to hold

the case in abeyance. This court may exercise jurisdiction only

over final orders,

(2000), and certain

interlocutory and collateral orders.

(2000); Fed.

R. Civ. P. 54(b); Cohen v. Beneficial Indus. Loan Corp.,

(1949). The order Holmes seeks to appeal is neither a final

order nor an appealable interlocutory or collateral order.

Accordingly, we deny leave to proceed in forma pauperis, deny a

certificate of appealability, and dismiss the appeal for lack of

jurisdiction. 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

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