Covers post-conviction and appellate procedures, including how to challenge trial court decisions, preserve issues for review, and navigate deadlines and standards of review. Also addresses habeas corpus petitions and related remedies for unlawful detention, constitutional violations, and claims of wrongful conviction or sentencing errors.
A Certificate of Appealability (COA) is granted only if the petitioner makes a “substantial showing of the denial of a constitutional right” under 28 U.S.C. § 2253(c)(2). After a federal district court denies a state-prisoner habeas petition under 28 U.S.C. § 2254, the COA becomes the gateway to appellate review in the circuit court. This […]
Federal prison sentences are generally calculated using the Bureau of Prisons’ rules, including up to 54 days of good‑conduct time per year and credit for qualifying prior custody. Mistakes in applying credits, concurrent sentencing, or supervised‑release terms can add months—or even years—to a release date. This article explains how federal time is computed, common calculator […]
