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S 217 98th Congress Senate

Finality of Criminal Judgments Act

Official title: A bill to reform procedures for collateral review of criminal judgments, and for other purposes.

Introduced: January 27, 1983 See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement Civil actions and liabilityCourts and Civil ProcedureCriminal procedureCriminal procedure and sentencing
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Habeas corpusJudicial reviewJurisdictionSentences (Criminal procedure)State courtsStates
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This bill died when the 98th Congress ended
It never became law before the 98th Congress (1983–1984) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 6 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 4, 1983
Committee on Judiciary. Measure incorporated into measure S. 1763 ordered to be reported.
Jul 19, 1983
Committee on Judiciary received executive comment from Office of the U.S. Attorney General.
Mar 8, 1983
Committee on Judiciary requested executive comment from Office of the U.S. Attorney General.
Mar 2, 1983
Referred to Subcommittee on Criminal Law.
Jan 27, 1983
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Jan 27, 1983
Introduced in Senate
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 Latest action August 4, 1983

Committee on Judiciary. Measure incorporated into measure S. 1763 ordered to be reported.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Finality of Criminal Judgments Act - Amends the Federal judicial code to condition consideration of a habeas corpus claim by a prisoner on a showing of actual prejudice resulting from the Federal right violated and that: (1) State or Federal Government action precluded assertion of that right; (2) the Federal right did not previously exist; or (3) the factual basis of the claim could not have been discovered by reasonable diligence.

Establishes a one-year statute of limitations for habeas corpus actions brought by State prisoners, and a two-year statute of limitations for similar motions made by Federal prisoners.

Vests authority to issue certificates for probable cause for appeal of habeas corpus orders exclusively in the courts of appeals.

Permits denial on the merits of habeas corpus writs notwithstanding the failure to exhaust State remedies.

Prohibits the granting of a habeas corpus writ with respect to any claim which has been fully and fairly adjudicated in State proceedings.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 1763 Related bill Reform of Federal Intervention in State Proceedings Act of 1984
 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 1
All 1 Republican 1
R
Grassley, Chuck
Iowa · Jan 27, 1983
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 217: Finality of Criminal Judgments Act. 98th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/98-S-217/
MLA
"S. 217: Finality of Criminal Judgments Act." 98th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/98-S-217/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 217, 98th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/98-S-217/.
Markdown link
[S. 217: Finality of Criminal Judgments Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/98-S-217/)
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