When Does the Habeas Statute of Limitations Begin to Run?

The Supreme Court hears argument today in the case of Jimenez v. Quarterman (No. 07-6994).  The case requires the Court to determine what triggers the one-year statute of limitations for federal habeas corpus claims.  Congress imposed the one-year limitation in 1996, hoping to diminish the number and success of challenges in federal court to state convictions.  The statute, in pertinent part, provides that the one-year clock for filing a federal claim begins to run on “the date on which the [state] judgment became final by the conclusion of direct review or the expiration of the time for seeking such review.”  This may seem straightforward enough, but Jimenez’s case highlights an ambiguity.  

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Go Vote–It’s a Wonderful Dispute Resolution Process

Perhaps the most amazing development in U.S. history occurred when George Washington refused to become king, and peacefully handed over power to John Adams. The concept that power will be voluntarily (or at least peacefully) handed over to someone who believes in completely different values and ideals than the current political leader is still so revolutionary that numerous countries face violence and repression at the mere thought. Let’s not take our democracy for granted. And, while there are plenty of sophisticated methods out there to resolve disputes, voting is a great one. So . . . get out there and vote!

Cross posted at Indisputably.

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