DENVER (AP) — Convicted Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh moved a step closer to being executed when he let a deadline expire for resuming his appeals.

His attorneys said he wants a date set for his execution.

McVeigh had until 5 p.m. Thursday to file a notice with U.S. District Judge Richard Matsch, who presided over his trial. District Court Clerk Jim Manspeaker said he would take the notice until midnight. McVeigh didn't act before either deadline.

The decision is now in the hands of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, which could set a date as early as May for him to die by lethal injection. McVeigh has reserved the right to seek executive clemency.

Bureau of Prisons spokesman Dan Dunne said an execution date will be set once the Department of Justice notifies the bureau that McVeigh has ended his appeals. It could be days or months before a date is set.

Generally, condemned inmates are given four months' notice of an execution.

McVeigh's attorneys had been counting on an order from the judge to set an execution date, but Matsch made it clear in his ruling that if McVeigh did not act, there would be no further court action in the case.

Nathan Chambers, McVeigh's attorney, said that during a meeting at the federal prison in Terre Haute, Ind., McVeigh ordered there be no more appeals on his behalf.

"He made it clear this was his decision. I tried to talk him out of it and get him to resume his appeal, but it was his decision not to file," Chambers said.

Matsch agreed to McVeigh's request last month, giving him until Thursday to change his mind.

At a Dec. 28 hearing, McVeigh reserved the right to seek clemency from the White House, telling the judge: "The president, as I understand it, has almost unlimited power in this respect."

The government has not executed a federal prisoner in 37 years.

McVeigh was convicted of murder, conspiracy and other charges for the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, which killed 168 people and injured more than 500.

He lost two appeals, at the U.S. Supreme Court and the federal appeals court. But he has not exhausted all appeals.

In December, McVeigh asked Matsch to end his appeals. He has the legal right to do so, even if his lawyers object.

McVeigh's other death appeals attorney, Dennis Hartley, met with McVeigh on Wednesday at the Indiana prison. He said Thursday that McVeigh was adamant that no appeals be filed on his behalf.

"He's not indicating why to anybody," Hartley said. "He's keeping his thoughts private. He doesn't need to justify this to anyone."