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United States · Bill · S

S. 217 (98th)

Finality of Criminal Judgments Act

reportedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

27 January 1983

Last action

4 August 1983 · Reported

Status

Committee on Judiciary. Measure incorporated into measure S. 1763 ordered to be reported.

Sponsors

Sen. Thurmond, Strom [R-SC], Sen. Chiles, Lawton [D-FL], Sen. Hatch, Orrin G. [R-UT], Sen. Zorinsky, Edward [D-NE], Sen. Simpson, Alan K. [R-WY], Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA], Sen. Domenici, Pete V. [R-NM], Sen. Helms, Jesse [R-NC], Sen. Garn, E. J. (Jake) [R-UT], Sen. Nunn, Sam [D-GA], Sen. Cochran, Thad [R-MS], Sen. Johnston, J. Bennett [D-LA], Sen. Heflin, Howell [D-AL], Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK], Sen. Murkowski, Frank H. [R-AK]

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

10 August 2026

Official sourceView documentsShare

Summary

Finality of Criminal Judgments Act - Amends the Federal judicial code to condition consideration of a habeas corpus claim by a prisoner on a showing of actual prejudice resulting from the Federal right violated and that: (1) State or Federal Government action precluded assertion of that right; (2) the Federal right did not previously exist; or (3) the factual basis of the claim could not have been discovered by reasonable diligence. Establishes a one-year statute of limitations for habeas corpus actions brought by State prisoners, and a two-year statute of limitations for similar motions made by Federal prisoners. Vests authority to issue certificates for probable cause for appeal of habeas corpus orders exclusively in the courts of appeals. Permits denial on the merits of habeas corpus writs notwithstanding the failure to exhaust State remedies. Prohibits the granting of a habeas corpus writ with respect to any claim which has been fully and fairly adjudicated in State proceedings.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 27 January 1983

    Introduced

    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 27 January 1983

    Introduced

    Introduced in Senate

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 2 March 1983

    Referred

    Referred to Subcommittee on Criminal Law.

    Source: Committee

  4. 8 March 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Judiciary requested executive comment from Office of the U.S. Attorney General.

    Source: Committee

  5. 19 July 1983

    Committee

    Committee on Judiciary received executive comment from Office of the U.S. Attorney General.

    Source: Committee

  6. 4 August 1983

    Reported

    Committee on Judiciary. Measure incorporated into measure S. 1763 ordered to be reported.

    Source: Committee

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

No version snapshots stored. Document URLs remain at the source.

Documents

1 official file

Leesvertaling

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Sponsors

Related records

Sources

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