Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 28 : Section 2265


   
U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04
Section 2265. Application to State unitary review procedure

      (a) For purposes of this section, a "unitary review" procedure
    means a State procedure that authorizes a person under sentence of
    death to raise, in the course of direct review of the judgment,
    such claims as could be raised on collateral attack. This chapter
    shall apply, as provided in this section, in relation to a State
    unitary review procedure if the State establishes by rule of its
    court of last resort or by statute a mechanism for the appointment,
    compensation, and payment of reasonable litigation expenses of
    competent counsel in the unitary review proceedings, including
    expenses relating to the litigation of collateral claims in the
    proceedings. The rule of court or statute must provide standards of
    competency for the appointment of such counsel.
      (b) To qualify under this section, a unitary review procedure
    must include an offer of counsel following trial for the purpose of
    representation on unitary review, and entry of an order, as
    provided in section 2261(c), concerning appointment of counsel or
    waiver or denial of appointment of counsel for that purpose. No
    counsel appointed to represent the prisoner in the unitary review
    proceedings shall have previously represented the prisoner at trial
    in the case for which the appointment is made unless the prisoner
    and counsel expressly request continued representation.
      (c) Sections 2262, 2263, 2264, and 2266 shall apply in relation
    to cases involving a sentence of death from any State having a
    unitary review procedure that qualifies under this section.
    References to State "post-conviction review" and "direct review" in
    such sections shall be understood as referring to unitary review
    under the State procedure. The reference in section 2262(a) to "an
    order under section 2261(c)" shall be understood as referring to
    the post-trial order under subsection (b) concerning representation
    in the unitary review proceedings, but if a transcript of the trial
    proceedings is unavailable at the time of the filing of such an
    order in the appropriate State court, then the start of the 180-day
    limitation period under section 2263 shall be deferred until a
    transcript is made available to the prisoner or counsel of the
    prisoner.



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