I
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4079
To reform habeas corpus.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 17, 1994
Mr. HYDE introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary
A BILL
To reform habeas corpus.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
TITLE I—POST CONVICTION PE-
TITIONS: GENERAL HABEAS
CORPUS REFORM
SEC. 101. PERIOD OF LIMITATION FOR FILING WRIT OF HA-
BEAS CORPUS FOLLOWING FINAL JUDGMENT
OF A STATE COURT.
Section 2244 of title 28, United States Code, is
amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(d) A one-year period of limitation shall apply to an
application for a writ of habeas corpus by a person in cus-
tody pursuant to the judgment of a State court. The limi-
tation period shall run from the latest of the following
times:
‘‘(1) The time at which State remedies are ex-
hausted.
‘‘(2) The time at which the impediment to filing
an application created by State action in violation of
the Constitution or laws of the United States is re-
moved, where the applicant was prevented from fil-
ing by such State action.
‘‘(3) The time at which the Federal right as-
serted was initially recognized by the Supreme
Court, where the right has been newly recognized by
the Court and is retroactively applicable.
‘‘(4) The time at which the factual predicate of
the claim or claims presented could have been dis-
covered through the exercise of reasonable dili-
gence.’’.
SEC. 102. AUTHORITY OF APPELLATE JUDGES TO ISSUE
CERTIFICATES OF PROBABLE CAUSE FOR AP-
PEAL IN HABEAS CORPUS AND FEDERAL COL-
LATERAL RELIEF PROCEEDINGS.
Section 2253 of title 28, United States Code, is
amended to read as follows:
‘‘§ 2253. Appeal
‘‘(a) In a habeas corpus proceeding or a proceeding
under section 2255 of this title before a circuit or district
judge, the final order shall be subject to review, on appeal,
by the court of appeals for the circuit where the proceed-
ing is had.
‘‘(b) There shall be no right of appeal from such an
order in a proceeding to test the validity of a warrant to
remove, to another district or place for commitment or
trial, a person charged with a criminal offense against the
United States, or to test the validity of his detention pend-
ing removal proceedings.
‘‘(c) An appeal may not be taken to the court of ap-
peals from the final order in a habeas corpus proceeding
where the detention complained of arises out of process
issued by a State court, or from the final order in a pro-
ceeding under section 2255 of this title, unless a circuit
justice or judge issues a certificate of probable cause.’’.
SEC. 103. CONFORMING AMENDMENT TO THE RULES OF AP-
PELLATE PROCEDURE.
Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 22 is amended
to read as follows:
‘‘RULE 22
‘‘HABEAS CORPUS AND SECTION 2255 PROCEEDINGS
‘‘(a) APPLICATION FOR AN ORIGINAL WRIT OF HA-
BEAS CORPUS.—An application for a writ of habeas cor-
pus shall be made to the appropriate district court. If ap-
plication is made to a circuit judge, the application will
ordinarily be transferred to the appropriate district court.
If an application is made to or transferred to the district
court and denied, renewal of the application before a cir-
cuit judge is not favored; the proper remedy is by appeal
to the court of appeals from the order of the district court
denying the writ.
‘‘(b) NECESSITY
OF CERTIFICATE
OF PROBABLE
CAUSE FOR APPEAL.—In a habeas corpus proceeding in
which the detention complained of arises out of process
issued by a State court, and in a motion proceeding pursu-
ant to section 2255 of title 28, United States Code, an
appeal by the applicant or movant may not proceed unless
a circuit judge issues a certificate of probable cause. If
a request for a certificate of probable cause is addressed
to the court of appeals, it shall be deemed addressed to
the judges thereof and shall be considered by a circuit
judge or judges as the court deems appropriate. If no ex-
press request for a certificate is filed, the notice of appeal
shall be deemed to constitute a request addressed to the
judges of the court of appeals. If an appeal is taken by
a State or the Government or its representative, a certifi-
cate of probable cause is not required.’’.
SEC. 104. DISCRETION TO DENY HABEAS CORPUS APPLICA-
TION DESPITE FAILURE TO EXHAUST STATE
REMEDIES.
Section 2254(b) of title 28, United State Code, is
amended to read as follows:
‘‘(b) An application for a writ of habeas corpus in
behalf of a person in custody pursuant to the judgment
of a State court shall not be granted unless it appears
that the applicant has exhausted the remedies available
in the courts of the State, or that there is either an ab-
sence of available State corrective process or the existence
of circumstances rendering such process ineffective to pro-
tect the rights of the applicant. An application may be
denied on the merits notwithstanding the failure of the
applicant to exhaust the remedies available in the courts
of the State.’’.
SEC. 105. PERIOD OF LIMITATION FOR FEDERAL PRIS-
ONERS FILING FOR COLLATERAL REMEDY.
Section 2255 of title 28, United States Code, is
amended by striking the second paragraph and the penul-
timate paragraph thereof, and by adding at the end the
following new paragraphs:
‘‘A two-year period of limitation shall apply to a mo-
tion under this section. The limitation period shall run
from the latest of the following times:
‘‘(1) The time at which the judgment of convic-
tion becomes final.
‘‘(2) The time at which the impediment to mak-
ing a motion created by governmental action in vio-
lation of the Constitution or laws of the United
States is removed, where the movant was prevented
from making a motion by such governmental action.
‘‘(3) The time at which the right asserted was
initially recognized by the Supreme Court, where the
right has been newly recognized by the Court and is
retroactively applicable.
‘‘(4) The time at which the factual predicate of
the claim or claims presented could have been dis-
covered through the exercise of reasonable dili-
gence.’’.
TITLE II—SPECIAL PROCEDURES
FOR COLLATERAL PROCEED-
INGS IN CAPITAL CASES
SEC. 201. DEATH PENALTY LITIGATION PROCEDURES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Title 28, United States Code, is
amended by inserting the following new chapter after
chapter 153:
‘‘CHAPTER 154—SPECIAL HABEAS CORPUS
PROCEDURES IN CAPITAL CASES
‘‘Sec.
‘‘2256. Prisoners in State custody subject to capital sentence; appointment of
counsel; requirement of rule of court or statute; procedures for
appointment.
‘‘2257. Mandatory stay of execution; duration; limits on stays of execution; suc-
cessive petitions.
‘‘2258. Filing of habeas corpus petition; time requirements; tolling rules.
‘‘2259. Evidentiary hearings; scope of Federal review; district court adjudica-
tion.
‘‘2260. Certificate of probable cause inapplicable.
‘‘2261. Application to State unitary review procedures.
‘‘2262. Limitation periods for determining petitions.
‘‘2263. Rule of construction.
‘‘§ 2256. Prisoners in State custody subject to capital
sentence; appointment of counsel; re-
quirement of rule of court or statute; pro-
cedures for appointment
‘‘(a) This chapter shall apply to cases arising under
section 2254 brought by prisoners in State custody who
are subject to a capital sentence. It shall apply only if the
provisions of subsections (b) and (c) are satisfied.
‘‘(b) This chapter is applicable if a State establishes
by rule of its court of last resort or by statute a mecha-
nism for the appointment, compensation and payment of
reasonable litigation expenses of competent counsel in
State postconviction proceedings brought by indigent pris-
oners whose capital convictions and sentences have been
upheld on direct appeal to the court of last resort in the
State or have otherwise become final for State law pur-
poses. The rule of court or statute must provide standards
of competency for the appointment of such counsel.
‘‘(c) Any mechanism for the appointment, compensa-
tion and reimbursement of counsel as provided in sub-
section (b) must offer counsel to all State prisoners under
capital sentence and must provide for the entry of an
order by a court of record: (1) appointing one or more
counsel to represent the prisoner upon a finding that the
prisoner is indigent and accepted the offer or is unable
competently to decide whether to accept or reject the offer;
(2) finding, after a hearing if necessary, that the prisoner
rejected the offer of counsel and made the decision with
an understanding of its legal consequences; or (3) denying
the appointment of counsel upon a finding that the pris-
oner is not indigent.
‘‘(d) No counsel appointed pursuant to subsections
(b) and (c) to represent a State prisoner under capital
sentence shall have previously represented the prisoner at
trial or on direct appeal in the case for which the appoint-
ment is made unless the prisoner and counsel expressly
request continued representation.
‘‘(e) The ineffectiveness or incompetence of counsel
during State or Federal collateral postconviction proceed-
ings in a capital case shall not be a ground for relief in
a proceeding arising under section 2254 of this chapter.
This limitation shall not preclude the appointment of dif-
ferent counsel, on the court’s own motion or at the request
of the prisoner, at any phase of State or Federal
postconviction proceedings on the basis of the ineffective-
ness or incompetence of counsel in such proceedings.
‘‘§ 2257. Mandatory stay of execution; duration; limits
on stays of execution; successive peti-
tions
‘‘(a) Upon the entry in the appropriate State court
of record of an order under section 2256(c), a warrant
or order setting an execution date for a State prisoner
shall be stayed upon application to any court that would
have jurisdiction over any proceedings filed under section
2254. The application must recite that the State has in-
voked the postconviction review procedures of this chapter
and that the scheduled execution is subject to stay.
‘‘(b) A stay of execution granted pursuant to sub-
section (a) shall expire if—
‘‘(1) a State prisoner fails to file a habeas cor-
pus petition under section 2254 within the time re-
quired in section 2258, or fails to make a timely ap-
plication for court of appeals review following the de-
nial of such a petition by a district court;
‘‘(2) upon completion of district court and court
of appeals review under section 2254 the petition for
factual predicate that could not have been discovered
through the exercise of reasonable diligence in time
to present the claim for State or Federal
postconviction review; and
‘‘(3) The facts underlying the claim would be
sufficient to establish by clear and convincing evi-
dence that but for constitutional error, no reasonable
fact finder would have found the petitioner guilty of
the underlying offense or eligible for the death pen-
alty under State law.
‘‘(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no
Federal district court or appellate judge shall have the au-
thority to enter a stay of execution, issue injunctive relief,
or grant any equitable or other relief in a capital case on
any successive habeas petition (or other action which fol-
lows the final determination of a first habeas corpus peti-
tion) unless the court first determines the petition or other
action does not constitute an abuse of the writ. This deter-
mination shall be made only by the district judge or appel-
late panel who adjudicated the merits of the original ha-
beas petition (or to the district judge or appellate panel
to which the case may have been subsequently assigned
as a result of the unavailability of the original court or
judges). In the Federal courts of appeal, a stay may issue
pursuant to the terms of this provision only when a major-
ity of the original panel or majority of the active judges
determines the petition does not constitute an abuse of
the writ.
‘‘§ 2258. Filing of habeas corpus petition; time re-
quirements; tolling rules
‘‘Any petition for habeas corpus relief under section
2254 must be filed in the appropriate district court within
one hundred and eighty days from the filing in the appro-
priate State court of record of an order under section
2256(c). The time requirements established by this section
shall be tolled—
‘‘(1) from the date that a petition for certiorari
is filed in the Supreme Court until the date of final
disposition of the petition if a State prisoner files
the petition to secure review by the Supreme Court
of the affirmance of a capital sentence on direct re-
view by the court of last resort of the State or other
final State court decision on direct review;
‘‘(2) during any period in which a State pris-
oner under capital sentence has a properly filed re-
quest for postconviction review pending before a
State court of competent jurisdiction; if all State fil-
ing rules are met in a timely manner, this period
shall run continuously from the date that the State
prisoner initially files for postconviction review until
final disposition of the case by the highest court of
the State, but the time requirements established by
this section are not tolled during the pendency of a
petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court ex-
cept as provided in paragraph (1); and
‘‘(3) during an additional period not to exceed
sixty days, if (A) a motion for an extension of time
is filed in the Federal district court that would have
proper jurisdiction over the case upon the filing of
a habeas corpus petition under section 2254; and
(B) a showing of good cause is made for the failure
to file the habeas corpus petition within the time pe-
riod established by this section.
‘‘§ 2259. Evidentiary hearings; scope of Federal re-
view; district court adjudication
‘‘(a) Whenever a State prisoner under a capital sen-
tence files a petition for habeas corpus relief to which this
chapter applies, the district court shall—
‘‘(1) determine the sufficiency of the record for
habeas corpus review based on the claims actually
presented and litigated in the State courts except
when the prisoner can show that the failure to raise
or develop a claim in the State courts is (A) the re-
sult of State action in violation of the Constitution
or laws of the United States; (B) the result of the
Supreme Court recognition of a new Federal right
that is retroactively applicable; or (C) based on a
factual predicate that could not have been discovered
through the exercise of reasonable diligence in time
to present the claim for State postconviction review;
and
‘‘(2) conduct any requested evidentiary hearing
necessary to complete the record for habeas corpus
review.
‘‘(b) Upon the development of a complete evidentiary
record, the district court shall rule on the claims that are
properly before it.
‘‘§ 2260. Certificate of probable cause inapplicable
‘‘The requirement of a certificate of probable cause
in order to appeal from the district court to the court of
appeals does not apply to habeas corpus cases subject to
the provisions of this chapter except when a second or suc-
cessive petition is filed.
‘‘§ 2261. Application to State unitary review proce-
dure
‘‘(a) For purposes of this section, a ‘unitary review’
procedure means a State procedure that authorizes a per-
son under sentence of death to raise, in the course of di-
rect review of the judgment, such claims as could be raised
on collateral attack. The provisions of this chapter shall
apply, as provided in this section, in relation to a State
unitary review procedure if the State establishes by rule
of its court of last resort or by statute a mechanism for
the appointment, compensation and payment of reasonable
litigation expenses of competent counsel in the unitary re-
view proceedings, including expenses relating to the litiga-
tion of collateral claims in the proceedings. The rule of
court or statute must provide standards of competency for
the appointment of such counsel.
‘‘(b) A unitary review procedure, to qualify under this
section, must include an offer of counsel following trial
for the purpose of representation on unitary review, and
entry of an order, as provided in section 2256(c), concern-
ing appointment of counsel or waiver or denial of appoint-
ment of counsel for that purpose. No counsel appointed
to represent the prisoner in the unitary review proceedings
shall have previously represented the prisoner at trial in
the case for which the appointment is made unless the
prisoner and counsel expressly request continued represen-
tation.
‘‘(c) Sections 2257, 2258, 2259, 2260, and 2262
shall apply in relation to cases involving a sentence of
death from any State having a unitary review procedure
that qualifies under this section. References to State ‘post-
conviction review’ and ‘direct review’ in those sections
shall be understood as referring to unitary review under
the State procedure. The references in sections 2257(a)
and 2258 to ‘an order under section 2256(c)’ shall be un-
derstood as referring to the post-trial order under sub-
section (b) concerning representation in the unitary review
proceedings, but if a transcript of the trial proceedings
is unavailable at the time of the filing of such an order
in the appropriate State court, then the start of the one
hundred and eighty day limitation period under section
2258 shall be deferred until a transcript is made available
to the prisoner or his counsel.
‘‘§ 2262. Limitation periods for determining petitions
‘‘(a)(1) A Federal district court shall determine such
a petition or motion within 60 days of any argument heard
on an evidentiary hearing, or where no evidentiary hearing
is held, within 60 days of any final argument heard in
the case.
‘‘(2)(A) The court of appeals shall determine any ap-
peal relating to such a petition or motion within 90 days
after the filing of any reply brief or within 90 days after
such reply brief would be due. For purposes of this provi-
sion, any reply brief shall be due within 14 days of the
opposition brief.
‘‘(B) The court of appeals shall decide any petition
for rehearing and or request by an appropriate judge for
rehearing en banc within 20 days of the filing of such a
petition or request unless a responsive pleading is required
in which case the court of appeals shall decide the applica-
tion within 20 days of the filing of the responsive pleading.
If en banc consideration is granted, the en banc court shall
determine the appeal within 90 days of the decision to
grant such consideration.
‘‘(3) The time limitations contained in paragraphs
(1) and (2) may be extended only once for 20 days, upon
an express good cause finding by the court that the inter-
ests of justice warrant such a one-time extension. The spe-
cific grounds for the good cause finding shall be set forth
in writing in any extension order of the court.
‘‘(4) Since the matters under paragraphs (1) and
(2)(A) are to be handled on a priority basis, the time from
filing of the petition or motion to final argument (under
paragraph (1)) or of the notice of appeal to the hearing
of the appeal (under paragraph (2)(A)) shall not exceed
4 months, unless exceptional circumstances require a
longer period. Where such time period exceeds 4 months
in any petition or motion (under paragraph (2)(A)), the
court shall set forth in writing the exceptional cir-
cumstances causing the delay.
‘‘(b) The time limitations under subsection (a) shall
apply to an initial petition or motion, and to any second
or successive petition or motion. The same limitations
shall also apply to the re-determination of a petition or
motion or related appeal following a remand by the court
of appeals or the Supreme Court for further proceedings,
and in such a case the limitation period shall run from
the date of the remand.
‘‘(c) The time limitations under this section shall not
be construed to entitle a petitioner or movant to a stay
of execution, to which the petitioner or movant would oth-
erwise not be entitled, for the purpose of litigating any
petition, motion, or appeal.
‘‘(d) The failure of a court to meet or comply with
the time limitations under this section shall not be a
ground for granting relief from a judgment of conviction
or sentence. The State or Government may enforce the
time limitations under this section by applying to the court
of appeals or the Supreme Court for a writ of mandamus.
‘‘(e) The Administrative Office of United States
Courts shall report annually to Congress on the compli-
ance by the courts with the time limits established in this
section.
‘‘§ 2263. Rule of construction
‘‘This chapter shall be construed to promote the expe-
ditious conduct and conclusion of State and Federal court
review in capital cases.’’.
(b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of chapters
at the beginning of part VI of title 28, United States Code,
is amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter
153 the following new item:
‘‘154. Special habeas corpus procedures in capital cases 2256’’.
TITLE III—FUNDING FOR LITIGA-
TION OF FEDERAL HABEAS
CORPUS PETITIONS IN CAP-
ITAL CASES
SEC. 301. FUNDING FOR DEATH PENALTY PROSECUTIONS.
Part E of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and
Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3711 et seq.) is
amended by adding at the end the following new section:
‘‘SEC. 515. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this subpart, the Director shall provide grants to the
States, from the funding allocated pursuant to section
511, for the purpose of supporting litigation pertaining to
Federal habeas corpus petitions in capital cases. The total
funding available for such grants within any fiscal year
shall be equal to the funding provided to capital resource
centers, pursuant to Federal appropriation, in the same
fiscal year.’’.
Æ
HR 4079 IH——2