The law regarding a motion attacking sentence of a federal court is set forth in 28 USC § 2255.
(a) A prisoner in custody under sentence of a court established by Act of Congress claiming the right to be released upon the ground that the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States, or that the court was without jurisdiction to impose such sentence, or that the sentence was in excess of the maximum authorized by law, or is otherwise subject to collateral attack, may move the court which imposed the sentence to vacate, set aside or correct the sentence.
(b) Unless the motion and the files and records of the case conclusively show that the prisoner is entitled to no relief, the court shall cause notice thereof to be served upon the United States attorney, grant a prompt hearing thereon, determine the issues and make findings of fact and conclusions of law with respect thereto. If the court finds that the judgment was rendered without jurisdiction, or that the sentence imposed was not authorized by law or otherwise open to collateral attack, or that there has been such a denial or infringement of the constitutional rights of the prisoner as to render the judgment vulnerable to collateral attack, the court shall vacate and set the judgment aside and shall discharge the prisoner or resentence him or grant a new trial or correct the sentence as may appear appropriate.
(c) A court may entertain and determine such motion without requiring the production of the prisoner at the hearing.
(d) An appeal may be taken to the court of appeals from the order entered on the motion as from a final judgment on application for a writ of habeas corpus.
(e) An application for a writ of habeas corpus in behalf of a prisoner who is authorized to apply for relief by motion pursuant to this section, shall not be entertained if it appears that the applicant has failed to apply for relief, by motion, to the court which sentenced him, or that such court has denied him relief, unless it also appears that the remedy by motion is inadequate or ineffective to test the legality of his detention.
(f) A 1-year period of limitation shall apply to a motion under this section. The limitation period shall run from the latest of
(1) the date on which the judgment of conviction becomes final;
(2) the date on which the impediment to making a motion created by governmental action in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States is removed, if the movant was prevented from making a motion by such governmental action;
(3) the date on which the right asserted was initially recognized by the Supreme Court, if that right has been newly recognized by the Supreme Court and made retroactively applicable to cases on collateral review; or
(4) the date on which the facts supporting the claim or claims presented could have been discovered through the exercise of due diligence.
(g) Except as provided in section 408 of the Controlled Substances Act, in all proceedings brought under this section, and any subsequent proceedings on review, the court may appoint counsel, except as provided by a rule promulgated by the Supreme Court pursuant to statutory authority. Appointment of counsel under this section shall be governed by section 3006A of title 18.
(h) A second or successive motion must be certified as provided in section 2244 by a panel of the appropriate court of appeals to contain
(1) newly discovered evidence that, if proven and viewed in light of the evidence as a whole, would be sufficient to establish by clear and convincing evidence that no reasonable factfinder would have found the movant guilty of the offense; or
(2) a new rule of constitutional law, made retroactive to cases on collateral review by the Supreme Court, that was previously unavailable.
The California Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, Modify or Correct a Sentence by a Person in Federal Custody is a legal process available to individuals who are currently serving a sentence in a federal prison in California and wish to challenge the validity or severity of their sentence. This motion gives defendants an opportunity to present new evidence, legal errors, or changes in the law that may impact the fairness of their sentence. Keywords: California, motion to vacate, set aside, modify, correct sentence, federal custody There are several types of motions that a person in federal custody in California can file to contest their sentence: 1. Motion to Vacate: This motion is filed when a defendant believes there were serious errors during their trial or plea process that violated their constitutional rights. It seeks to have the entire conviction or guilty plea overturned. 2. Motion to Set Aside: This motion is used to request the setting aside of a conviction due to specific legal errors or misconduct during the trial or plea process. It does not aim to fully overturn the conviction but focuses on specific issues that may have affected the fairness of the process. 3. Motion to Modify: When a defendant believes that their sentence is too harsh or disproportionate to the crime committed, they can file a motion to modify. This motion asks the court to reduce or modify the sentence based on various grounds, such as changes in the law, new evidence, or personal circumstances. 4. Motion to Correct: If there are factual errors or mistakes in the sentence itself, a defendant can file a motion to correct. This motion aims to rectify any inaccuracies or clerical errors in the sentence, such as miscalculated sentence length or incorrect application of enhancements. It's important to note that these motions are specific to federal custody and should be filed in the appropriate federal court where the original conviction took place. The process can be complex and usually requires the guidance of an experienced attorney who specializes in federal criminal law. Overall, the California Motion to Vacate, Set Aside, Modify, or Correct a Sentence provides individuals in federal custody with a legal avenue to challenge the validity or fairness of their sentence. By utilizing these motions, defendants have the opportunity to present new evidence, highlight legal errors, or seek a reduction or correction of their sentence.
