Holland v. Florida
What's at Stake
Whether, and under what circumstances, the one-year statute of limitations for filing a federal habeas corpus petition is subject to equitable tolling.
Summary
Under federal law, state prisoners must file their federal habeas corpus petitions within one-year after their state judgments of conviction become final. The principal question in this case is whether a prisoner should be excused for missing the one-year deadline when that failure is due to the allegedly gross negligence of assigned counsel. The ACLU's amicus brief argues that Congress understood and intended that the one-year filing deadline would be subject to equitable tolling in appropriate circumstances.
Legal Documents
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12/29/2009
Holland v. Florida - ACLU Amicus Brief
Press Releases
Supreme Court In Holland v. Florida Affirms Importance Of Fairness In Construing Habeas Deadlines