Appeals & Habeas Corpus

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 […]