Long title | An Act to deter terrorism, provide justice for victims, provide for an effective death penalty, and for other purposes. |
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Acronyms (colloquial) | AEDPA |
Citations | |
Public law | Pub.L. 104–132 |
Statutes at Large | 110 Stat. 1214 |
Legislative history | |
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United States Supreme Court cases | |
Felker v. Turpin, 518 U.S. 651 (1997) Rice v. Collins, 546 U.S. 333 (2006) Jimenez v. Quarterman, 555 U.S. 113 (2009) |
The Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, Pub. L. No. 104-132, 110 Stat. 1214, (also known as AEDPA) is an act of the United States Congress signed into law on April 24, 1996. The bill was introduced by former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole, passed with broad bipartisan support by Congress (91-8 in the US Senate, 293-133 in the US House of Representatives) following the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing. It was signed into law by President Bill Clinton.
Although controversial for its changes to the law of habeas corpus in the United States (Title I), upheld in Felker v. Turpin, 518 U.S. 651 (1997), it also contained a number of provisions to "deter terrorism, provide justice for victims, provide for an effective death penalty, and for other purposes," in the words of the bill summary.
The AEDPA had a tremendous impact on the law of habeas corpus. One provision of the AEDPA limits the power of federal judges to grant relief unless the state court's adjudication of the claim resulted in a decision that was
In addition to the modifications that pertain to all habeas corpus cases, AEDPA enacted special review provisions for capital cases from states that enacted quality controls for the performance of counsel in the state courts in the post-conviction phase. States that enacted the quality controls would see strict time limitations enforced against their death-row inmates in federal habeas proceedings coupled with extremely deferential review to the determinations of their courts regarding issues of federal law. Only Arizona has qualified for the additional provisions, but it has not been able to take advantage of them because it has not followed its own procedures.