What is a 2255 motion?
The long form of the title of the motion is, “Motion Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence by a Person in Federal Custody.” It is commonly referred to as a “collateral attack on the judgment,” as opposed to a direct appeal, which is a “direct attack on the judgment.” It is a type of post-conviction motion. 28 U.S.C. § 2255 and § 2241 make up the old habeas corpus law.
What is a 2255 motion used for?
Most commonly, it is used for:
(1) Ineffective assistance of counsel at the plea, trial, sentencing, and/or appeal levels. If an attorney representing the defendant was “ineffective” within the legal meaning of that word, then it must be complained of in a 2255 motion.
(2) Prosecutorial misconduct. If the U.S. Attorney’s office or an agent of the Government committed “misconduct” within the legal meaning of that word, and that affected the Defendant’s substantial rights and, except for that conduct, there would have been a different result in the case, then it must be raised in a 2255 motion.
(3) Newly discovered evidence. If, after sentencing, there is new evidence discovered that could not have been discovered before the sentencing, you may raise that in a 2255 motion.
This issue cannot be raised in a direct appeal because the review on appeal is limited to the record that existed at the time the sentence was imposed. (Ineffective assistance of counsel and prosecutorial misconduct cannot be raised in a direct appeal either.)
(4) A substantive change to the law that has been explicitly made retroactive by the U.S. Supreme Court.
When can a 2255 motion be filed?
The deadline to file a 2255 motion is 12 months after the latest of the following:
(1) The deadline by which you have to file a direct appeal after your conviction. (Technically, “the date on which the judgment of conviction becomes final,” but different Courts interpret that differently.)
(2) New evidence is discovered that could not have been discovered before.
(3) The date that the Supreme Court first declares that someone in your situation has a right that affects your sentence or conviction (but only if the Supreme Court specifically makes it retroactive).
(4) The date of some government action that prevented you from filing before. (Sometimes the Government’s explicit denial of a Rule 35(b) motion can restart the 12-month period. If you think this happened, definitely have an attorney advise you because arguing this issue is very technical and depends heavily on the circ*mstances of the particular case).
Once a 2255 motion has been filed, what happens?
The motion will be filed in the same Court in which you were sentenced. If the same Judge is there, then that Judge will normally be the one to rule on your motion.
There are several potential outcomes. First, the Judge, once he or she receives the 2255 motion, may just deny the motion. Second, the Judge may order the Government to respond to your motion, and then, after the Government responds, deny the motion. Third, the Judge may order the Government to respond and then, after reviewing its response, grant a hearing at which you and the Government will be allowed to offer evidence. At that point, the Judge may grant or deny the motion.
If it is denied, you may appeal to your circuit’s Court of Appeals, but only if you meet certain technical and substantive criteria.
What is a 2241 motion?
A 2241 motion is a mechanism whereby one can complain of being unlawfully detained for any number of reasons recognized by law. A typical case is an improper calculation of sentence credits leaving a defendant to serve more time in prison than is proper. Another would be a claim of actual innocence that cannot be brought anywhere else for any number of reasons. Another would be some issue that has been unsuccessfully addressed through the Bureau of Prisons’ Administrative Remedies Program, after Administrative Remedies have been exhausted (meaning after the BP-9, BP-10, and BP-11 forms have been filed and denied). Sometimes “cruel and unusual punishment” claims can be made in a 2241 motion. In many cases there is no technical deadline to file a 2241, but often certain “conditions precedent” to filing have to have occurred, otherwise your motion will be denied for “failure to exhaust remedies.” There are many other considerations and variations that an experienced attorney can guide a defendant through.
What if I signed a Plea Agreement in which I waived my right to appeal and to file a 2255 motion?
Many issues that could be raised in 2255 motions can be waived by signing a plea agreement that says the defendant is giving up his or her right to appeal or file any other post-conviction motion. HOWEVER, an otherwise valid appeal waiver will NEVER waive the right to appeal ineffective assistance of counsel or prosecutorial misconduct “that rises to a constitutional dimension.” This is a high standard, but if you believe ineffective assistance of counsel or prosecutorial misconduct of that level are involved in the case, it is worthwhile to have an experienced attorney review the case and advise you.
What should I do now?
If, for one of the reasons listed above, you feel you or a loved one has been wrongfully convicted or sentenced, call us today! A clock is running on the deadline to file, and an attorney’s help is often necessary just to calculate the deadline. 2255 and 2241 motions are very technical, and most should only be done with the help of an experienced attorney. An attorney should, at a minimum, review the case to see whether the motion is worth filing at all and to identify the best issues to include in the motion.
My office conducts reviews to see if the 2255 motion is worth filing and identify the issues that would give you the best chance of success for $8,500.00. (The review for 2241 motions costs considerably less.) For this fee, you will learn whether a 2255 motion will help you and get a sense of its likelihood of success. Additionally, at the completion of the review, we will be able to quote a precise fee for representing the defendant in filing this motion. If you are eligible, you may be able to get a hearing in a year. If you are not eligible, then you will be free from the worry that you should pursue it further.
Please call me at (512) 693-9LAW or email me with questions or for more information. To email me, just click on the “Contact Us” link here or at the top of the page, and I would be glad to talk to you.
by Chad Van Cleave
I've got quite a bit to unpack here, so let's break it down. A 2255 motion, formally known as a "Motion Under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 to Vacate, Set Aside, or Correct Sentence by a Person in Federal Custody," is a legal tool used after a federal conviction to challenge the legality of the conviction or sentence. It's a post-conviction motion distinct from a direct appeal and is filed with the court that imposed the sentence.
This motion is typically utilized for various reasons, including claiming ineffective assistance of counsel, highlighting prosecutorial misconduct, presenting newly discovered evidence, or citing a substantive change in the law that applies retroactively. The deadlines for filing a 2255 motion are specific, often tied to different events such as the discovery of new evidence or changes in relevant laws.
Once filed, the court reviews the motion, and depending on the circ*mstances, it may be denied outright, or the court may order the government to respond. This could lead to a hearing where evidence can be presented before the court makes a decision. If denied, there might be a possibility to appeal to the Court of Appeals under certain criteria.
On the other hand, a 2241 motion operates differently. It allows individuals to challenge the lawfulness of their detention for various reasons recognized by the law. This could involve improper sentence calculations, claims of actual innocence, or issues not addressed through the Bureau of Prisons' administrative remedies.
It's important to note that signing a plea agreement might waive certain rights to appeal or file motions like the 2255. However, waivers typically do not cover claims of ineffective assistance of counsel or prosecutorial misconduct of a constitutional dimension.
Given the complexity of these motions, seeking legal counsel is strongly advised. These legal proceedings are highly technical and require a deep understanding of the law and its nuances. Attorneys experienced in federal law and post-conviction matters can help assess the viability of a 2255 or 2241 motion, identify strong legal arguments, and guide individuals through the process.
If someone believes they've been wrongfully convicted or sentenced, seeking legal advice sooner rather than later is crucial due to the strict deadlines involved. Legal consultations can clarify options and potentially provide a path toward addressing these concerns through the appropriate legal channels.
