§2263 Filing of Habeas Corpus Application; Time Requirements; Tolling Rules

Summary

You must file a federal habeas corpus petition under section 2254 in the right district court within 180 days after the state’s final decision on direct appeal, or within 180 days after the time to ask for that review ends. The 180-day clock stops running in three situations. It pauses while a death-row prisoner asks the U.S. Supreme Court to review the state’s direct-appeal decision, until the Supreme Court finishes. It also pauses while the first state post‑conviction or other collateral petition is pending, until the state courts finally decide it. Finally, you can get up to 30 more days if you file a motion in the federal district court asking for more time and you show good cause for missing the deadline.