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Habeas Hints: Retroactivity-Cunningham and Beyond
by Kent Russell
This column is intended to provide ?habeas hints? to prisoners who are considering or handling habeas corpus petitions as their own attorneys (?in pro per?). The focus of the column is habeas corpus practice under AEDPA, the 1996 habeas corpus law which now governs habeas corpus practice …
This column is intended to provide ?habeas hints? to prisoners who are considering or handling habeas corpus petitions as their own attorneys (?in pro per?). The focus of the column is habeas corpus practice under AEDPA, the 1996 habeas corpus law which now governs habeas corpus practice …
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More from this issue:
- Michigan Prisons: Another CMS Failure in Privatized Prisoner Health Care, by David Reutter
- Michigan's Prison Health Care System Found Contemptuous, by David Reutter
- Michigan's In-Cell Restraints Considered Torture; Injunction Issued, by David Reutter
- California Creates High Risk Sex Offender Task Force
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- Florida's Prison Industry Practices Tightening, by David Reutter
- PLN Uncovers Secret Sweetheart Settlement Between PRIDE and Former Board Members, by David Reutter
- Nevada Prisoner Awarded $18,700 For Retaliation Claim
- Indianapolis’ Sex Offender Ordinance Banning Presence in Public Places with Children Enjoined
- New BOP Program Isolating Muslim, Middle Eastern Prisoners
- ABA Recommends Congress Repeal Portions of PLRA, by David Reutter
- Doing “Katrina Time”, by Bob Williams
- Habeas Hints: Retroactivity-Cunningham and Beyond, by Kent A. Russell
- Fraudulent Tax Returns Net Illegal Millions for Prisoners, by Gary Hunter
- Suit Over Suicide At Indian Jail In Washington Settled For $700,000
- New Jersey Auditor: Life Skills Academy Prison Contract Improperly Monitored, by Matthew Clarke
- Record Number of Texas Prison Guards Arrested, by Matthew Clarke
- $143,774.55 Attorney Fee and Costs Award in New York EMSA Suit, by Matthew Clarke
- Kentucky County Settles Prisoner Rape Suit for $1.4 Million
- WA Prisoners Entitled to Minimal Due Process Before Risk Level Demotion
- Washington State Waits Too Long to Collect Restitution
- Prisoner’s Death After Restraint Settled By Los Angeles County For $80,000
- Eleventh Circuit Remands ADA and Section 1983 Claims for Amended Complaint, by John Dannenberg
- Audit of California DOC Contracted Healthcare Expenditures Reveals Rampant Waste, Abuse and Management Deficiencies, by Marvin Mentor
- Guards Sue California DOC for Identity Theft by Prisoner Workers
- Missouri Elective Abortion Ban Ruled Unconstitutional In Class Action
- Washington DOC Settles Open Records Suit for $15,000
- Jail Chaplains Scrutinized for Affairs with Female Prisoners
- California DOC Settles With PLN Over Restrictive Publications Policies: Changes Regulations, Pays Damages, by John Dannenberg
- $128,000 Cost Fee Against Former Angolite Editor Reversed
- $110,000 Settlement for North Carolina Prisoner Beaten By Guards
- U.S. Supreme Court: Failure to Exhaust Remedies Is an Affirmative Defense Under the PLRA, by John Dannenberg
- Missouri’s Lethal Injection Protocol Unconstitutional; Executions Stayed
- Innocent Idaho Prisoner Receives $900,000 for 21 Years Wrongful Incarceration
- A Devastating Link: Prisoner Rape and the War on Drugs
- Prosecutors Check Prospective Jurors’ Background, Hoping to Disqualify Them
- EPA Fines Pennsylvania DOC $37,000 for Air Violations
- Registration Requirements Expanded to Non-Sex Crimes and Unconvicted Offenses, by Matthew Clarke
- Florida DOC Liable for Legal Copy Costs Not Repaid
- Pennsylvania Prisoner Wins $10,000 On Excessive Force Claim
- Suit For Untreated Diabetic Prisoner’s Death In Los Angeles County Jail Lobby Settled For $700,000
- News in Brief:
- Washington DOC Pays $1.9 Million in Rape-Murder; County Escapes Liability
More from Kent A. Russell:
- Habeas Hints: Understanding and Satisfying the Strickland Test for IAC, May 15, 2018
- Rundown on California Propositions 57 and 64, Jan. 10, 2017
- Habeas Hints: Staring Down the Two-Headed Monster: Richter-Pinholster, Dec. 15, 2013
- Habeas Hints: Staring Down the Two-Headed Monster: Richter-Pinholster, Nov. 15, 2013
- Habeas Hints: Actual Innocence, Sept. 15, 2013
- Habeas Hints: 2012 Supreme Court Habeas Highlights: Plea Bargaining Cases, Sept. 15, 2012
- Habeas Hints: Expert Testimony in Habeas Cases, Aug. 15, 2011
- Habeas Hints: The Year in Review, Feb. 15, 2011
- Habeas Hints: Certificate of Appealability, June 15, 2010
- HABEAS HINTS – CALIFORNIA COMMENT Pace and Bonner: Avoiding and Fighting “Untimeliness” Rulings Under California Law, Dec. 15, 2009
More from these topics:
- Sixth Circuit Announces State-Law Exceptions to Appeal Deadlines Preserve “Pending” Status Under AEDPA, Holding Belated-Appeal Procedures Toll Federal Habeas Limitations Period, April 1, 2026. Limitations, Habeas Corpus, AEDPA, Appealable Issues/Orders, Failure to Address/Advise Defendant.
- SCOTUS Announces Sentencing Reform Act Does Not Authorize Automatic Extension of Supervised Release When Defendant Absconds, Resolving Circuit Split, April 1, 2026. Sentencing, Revocation/Modification of Probation, etc., Statutory Construction/Interpretation, Sentences - Corrections or Modifications of, Probation, Parole & Supervised Release.
- SCOTUS Sides with Federal Prisoner in Habeas Review Case, March 1, 2026. Habeas Corpus, AEDPA, Mandatory Minimum Sentence, Statutory Construction/Interpretation, Predicate Acts/Offenses.
- SCOTUS Announces Federal Prisoners May Seek Certiorari Review of Authorization Denials Under § 2255(h) and Are Not Subject to § 2244(b)(1)’s Bar on Previously Presented Claims, Feb. 1, 2026. Habeas Corpus, AEDPA, Appealable Issues/Orders, Statutory Construction/Interpretation, Authority and Jurisdiction.
- Eleventh Circuit Upholds Dismissal of Six Female Alabama Jail Detainees’ Sexual Assault Suit, Jan. 1, 2026. Jail Misconduct, Summary Judgment, Limitations, Municipal Liability, Criminal Sexual Abuse.
- California Court of Appeal: Trial Courts Have Inherent Authority to Correct Unauthorized Sentences at Any Time Without Habeas Petition, Jan. 1, 2026. Habeas Corpus, Possession or Use of Firearms, Sentences - Authorized, Sentences - Corrections or Modifications of, Effect of Vacatur.
- First Circuit Announces Modification of Juvenile’s Life-Without-Parole Sentence to Parole-Eligible Life Term Constitutes “New Judgment” Under AEDPA, Exempting Second-in-Time Habeas Petition From Gatekeeping Requirements, Jan. 1, 2026. Parole, Habeas Corpus, Life without Parole (LWOP), AEDPA, Juvenile Offenses/Offenders.
- Supreme Court of Maryland Announces Division of Correction Must Immediately Apply Time-Served Credit Against Valid Sentences When Convictions Are Vacated and May Not Toll Execution Pending Reprosecution; New Sentences Arising From New Convictions Take, Jan. 1, 2026. Habeas Corpus, Overdetention, Effect of Vacatur, Credits, Concurrent and Consecutive Sentences.
- Alabama Supreme Court Denies DOC’s Improper Venue Objection, Jan. 1, 2026. Defenses, Good Time, Habeas Corpus, Failure to Object, Authority and Jurisdiction.
- Ninth Circuit Grants Equitable Tolling Under AEDPA Where Attorney Abandoned Prisoner by Failing to Communicate for Nine Months and Prison Officials Delayed Processing Filing Documents, Dec. 15, 2025. Attorney Misconduct, Legal Materials, Law Library Access/Adequacy, Limitations, AEDPA.

