daniels argued january decided april petitioner convicted felon possession firearm violation sentence enhanced armed career criminal act acca imposes mandatory minimum sentence anyone violates three previous convictions inter alia violent felony petitioner four prior state convictions unsuccessful direct appeal petitioner filed motion vacate set aside correct federal sentence pursuant asserted sentence violated constitution based part two prior convictions unconstitutional prior convictions claimed based inadequate guilty pleas one product ineffective assistance counsel district denied motion ninth circuit affirmed held judgment affirmed affirmed justice delivered opinion part concluding petitioner failed pursue remedies otherwise available challenge prior convictions custody convictions may use motion directed federal sentence collaterally attack convictions pp custis held sole exception convictions obtained violation right counsel defendant right acca constitution collaterally attack prior convictions federal sentencing proceeding considerations supporting conclusion ease administration interest promoting finality judgments also present context district evaluating motion unlikely district engaged sentencing documents necessary evaluate claims arising proceedings different jurisdiction moreover retain strong interest preserving convictions obtained impose wide range disabilities convicted even release pp although defendants may challenge convictions constitutional infirmity necessarily follow motion appropriate vehicle determining whether conviction later used enhance federal sentence unconstitutionally obtained defendant convicted state numerous opportunities challenge constitutionality conviction vehicles review available indefinitely without limitation procedural barriers limit access review merits constitutional claims vindicating presumption regularity attaches final judgments even question waiver constitutional rights parke raley thus time sentencing acca prior conviction set aside direct collateral review presumptively valid may used enhance federal sentence exception convictions obtained violation right counsel custis supra enhanced federal sentence imposed acca person sentenced may pursue channels direct collateral review still available challenge prior conviction however prior conviction used enhance federal sentence longer open attack right defendant failed pursue remedies available unsuccessfully without recourse defendant may collaterally attack prior conviction motion unless claims conviction obtained violation right counsel raised claim federal sentencing proceeding contrary rule effectively permit challenges far stale brought right sanction end run around statutes limitation procedural barriers preclude movant attacking prior conviction directly nothing constitution precedent requires result pp delivered opinion part rehnquist kennedy thomas joined scalia joined except portion opinion recognizing may available rare circumstances scalia filed opinion concurring part souter filed dissenting opinion stevens ginsburg joined breyer filed dissenting opinion earthy daniels petitioner writ certiorari appeals ninth circuit april justice delivered opinion part custis addressed whether defendant sentenced armed career criminal act acca collaterally attack validity previous state convictions used enhance federal sentence held sole exception convictions obtained violation right counsel defendant right bring challenge federal sentencing proceeding consider whether sentencing proceeding concluded individual sentenced may challenge federal sentence motion supp ground prior convictions unconstitutionally obtained hold general rule may may rare circumstances available need address issue petitioner earthy daniels tried convicted felon possession firearm violation government sought enhance sentence acca app acca imposes mandatory minimum sentence anyone violates three previous convictions violent felony serious drug offense petitioner convicted california robbery first degree burglary district found petitioner armed career criminal within meaning acca granting downward departure district sentenced petitioner months petitioner adjudged armed career criminal received sentence direct appeal petitioner argued unsuccessfully two burglary convictions qualify predicate offenses acca see table petitioner filed motion vacate set aside correct sentence pursuant district central district california section postconviction remedy federal prisoners permits prisoner custody sentence federal move imposed sentence vacate set aside correct sentence upon ground sentence imposed violation constitution laws petitioner asserted current federal sentence imposed violation constitution based part robbery convictions prior convictions alleged unconstitutional based guilty pleas knowing voluntary conviction also product ineffective assistance counsel app contend relief appropriate current sentence imposed violation acca cf brief petitioner district denied motion app panel ninth circuit appeals affirmed held decision custis bar federal habeas review validity prior conviction used federal sentencing enhancement unless petitioner raises claim gideon wainwright internal quotation marks citation omitted courts appeals divided whether custis bars relief well federal sentencing proceedings granted certiorari ii petitioner custis attempted federal sentencing proceeding attack prior state convictions used enhance sentence acca like petitioner custis challenged prior convictions product allegedly faulty guilty pleas ineffective assistance counsel challenges type custis sought bring ris level jurisdictional defect ibid two considerations supported constitutional conclusion custis ease administration interest promoting finality judgments respect former noted resolving constitutional attacks prior convictions require sentencing courts rummage frequently nonexistent difficult obtain transcripts records respect latter observed allowing collateral attacks inevitably delay impair orderly administration justice deprive judgment normal force effect internal quotation marks brackets omitted petitioner contends custis rule extend proceedings concerns articulated custis present context brief petitioner disagree first district evaluating motion unlikely district engaged sentencing documents necessary evaluate claims arising proceedings different jurisdiction petitioner quite right federal district courts capable evaluating constitutional claims raised way habeas petition institutional competence make state records transcripts easier locate facts case reinforce concern example petitioner contends entered guilty pleas without full understanding essential elements crimes charged therefore resulting convictions violated due process app claims nature require close scrutiny record yet petitioner placed transcript either plea colloquy record fact admitted transcript missing state file cf circumstances almost futile exercise district attempt determine accurately communicated petitioner two decades ago respect concern finality petitioner argues served complete sentences convictions state suffer little prejudice convictions invalidated collateral challenge brief petitioner contrary even defendant served full measure sentence state retains strong interest preserving convictions obtained impose wide range disabilities convicted crimes even release example california petitioner committed crimes persons convicted felony may disqualified holding public office subjected restrictions professional licensing barred possessing firearms see dept justice office pardon attorney civil disabilities convicted felons survey statute authorizing enhanced sentences recidivist offenders cal penal code ann west see also parke raley oral argument petitioner suggested invalidating prior conviction constitutional grounds purposes use acca effect beyond federal proceeding tr oral arg although question squarely presented state conviction determined sufficiently unreliable used enhance federal sentence state ability use judgment subsequently purposes least greatly undermined thus state real continuing interest integrity judgments fundamental level petitioner attempts distinguish custis decision appropriate forum defendant may challenge prior convictions used enhance federal sentence issue custis according petitioner whether defendant attack prior conviction constitutional infirmity brief petitioner quoting nichols ginsburg dissenting original emphasis deleted appropriate forum challenge petitioner argues least forum available federal proceeding brief petitioner premise underlying petitioner argument defendants may challenge convictions constitutional infirmity quite correct beyond dispute convictions must obtained manner comports federal constitution necessarily follow motion appropriate vehicle determining whether conviction later used enhance federal sentence unconstitutionally obtained system affords defendant convicted state numerous opportunities challenge constitutionality conviction may raise constitutional claims direct appeal postconviction proceedings available state law petition writ habeas corpus brought pursuant ed supp see generally liebman hertz federal habeas corpus practice procedure ed vehicles review however available indefinitely without limitation procedural barriers statutes limitations rules concerning procedural default exhaustion remedies operate limit access review merits constitutional claim see olano procedural principle familiar constitutional right may forfeited criminal well civil cases failure make timely assertion right tribunal jurisdiction determine quoting yakus one principles vindicated limitations presumption deeply rooted jurisprudence presumption regularity attaches final judgments even question waiver constitutional rights parke supra thus held time sentencing acca prior conviction set aside direct collateral review conviction presumptively valid may used enhance federal sentence see custis rule subject one exception enhanced federal sentence based part prior conviction obtained violation right counsel defendant may challenge validity prior conviction federal sentencing proceedings constitutional challenge prior conviction may raised sentencing forum enhanced federal sentence imposed pursuant acca person sentenced may pursue channels direct collateral review still available challenge prior conviction custis noted possibility petitioner still custody prior convictions attack state sentences state federal habeas review ibid challenge underlying conviction successful defendant may apply reopening federal sentence custis express opinion appropriate disposition application cf ibid however prior conviction used enhance federal sentence longer open direct collateral attack right defendant failed pursue remedies available defendant unsuccessfully defendant without recourse presumption validity attached prior conviction time sentencing conclusive defendant may collaterally attack prior conviction motion defendant may challenge prior conviction product gideon violation motion generally raised claim federal sentencing proceeding see frady holding procedural default rules developed habeas corpus context apply cases see also reed farley justice souter says holding rul es application choice relief relief post dissenting opinion characterization problem misses point said defendant generally ample opportunity obtain constitutional review state conviction supra door review closed post defendant either failed pursue otherwise available remedies failed prove constitutional violation conviction becomes final defendant entitled another bite apple simply conviction later used enhance another sentence sure text broad enough cover claim enhanced federal sentence violates due process see ibid see also infra due process claim predicated consideration sentencing fully expired prior conviction think goals easy administration finality ample horsepower justify foreclosing relief allow defendants sentenced acca collaterally attack prior convictions motion effectively permit challenges far stale brought right sanction end run around statutes limitations procedural barriers preclude movant attacking prior conviction directly nothing constitution precedent requires result recognize may rare cases channel review actually available defendant respect prior conviction due fault circumstances case require us determine whether defendant use motion challenge federal sentence based supp allowing second successive motion newly discovered evidence proven viewed light evidence whole sufficient establish clear convincing evidence reasonable factfinder found movant guilty offense ibid tolling limitation period movant prevented making motion impediment created governmental action violation constitution laws iii claim made sole basis petitioner daniels challenges current federal sentence two prior state convictions products inadequate guilty pleas ineffective assistance counsel petitioner pursued claims custody convictions counsel conceded oral argument indication petitioner prevented external force tr oral arg petitioner federal sentence properly enhanced pursuant acca based four facially valid prior state convictions petitioner failed pursue remedies otherwise available challenge convictions may use motion collaterally attack convictions judgment appeals ninth circuit therefore affirmed ordered earthy daniels petitioner writ certiorari appeals ninth circuit april justice scalia concurring part agree supp gideon exception see gideon wainwright permit inquiry whether conviction later used enhance federal sentence unconstitutionally obtained agree reasoning far goes another reason reaching result however one prevents joining portion opinion speculates may rare circumstances available channel review actually available defendant respect prior conviction due fault ante simply put text broad enough cover claim enhanced federal sentence violates due process enhancement based prior convictions addition practical reasons justice identifies counseling petitioner interpretation stands text provision long recognized power award writ habeas corpus courts must given written law felker turpin quoting ex parte bollman cranch section authorizes challenge prisoner custody sentence established act congress claiming right released upon ground sentence imposed violation constitution laws emphases added already determined custis sentencing violate due process clause imposing sentence enhanced prior purportedly tainted convictions unless taint result gideon violation follows ineluctably establish right challenge federal sentences based enhancement stale convictions conclusion reinforced reinforcement possible comparing text latter governing habeas challenges state convictions provides ineffectiveness incompetence counsel federal state collateral proceedings shall ground relief proceeding arising supp conceivable reason bar placed upon challenges state convictions upon challenges state convictions congress expect challenges state convictions used enhance federal convictions brought perhaps precepts fundamental fairness inherent due process suggest forum litigate challenges like petitioner must made available somewhere odd case challenge brought earlier follow federal sentencing must provide remedy much less federal sentencing need provide remedy entirely dependent upon impropriety prior federal sentencing must fundamental fairness achieved well indeed better holding rendering jurisdiction must provide means challenge enhancement threatened imposed constitutional rule combined rule sentence already imposed must adjusted accordingly prevent sentencing hearings routinely complicated inquiries prior convictions locate inquiries best conducted rendering jurisdiction also avoid possible gap protection result using cases inappropriate purpose arising fact discussed used remedy ineffective assistance postconviction counsel left open question whether ineffective assistance establish constitutional violation see coleman thompson possibly means relief reasons join opinion part earthy daniels petitioner writ certiorari appeals ninth circuit april justice souter justice stevens justice ginsburg join dissenting custis held federal defendant facing enhanced sentence basis prior state convictions armed career criminal act acca one exception challenge constitutionality underlying state convictions federal sentencing proceeding custis thus precursor case us custis however compelling authority today disposition although opinion custis struck portending strictly held reading case free portent fact understanding one member custis majority custis presented forum question issue whether defendant attack prior conviction constitutional infirmity nichols ginsburg dissenting emphasis original door custis remained open attack prior state convictions state federal habeas challenge underlying convictions see custis supra custis still custody purposes state convictions time federal sentencing thus attack state sentences maryland federal habeas review case presents distinct question happens door closed reasons reading supp restrictively read acca sentencing provisions nothing either text extension rules governing habeas review state convictions ed supp language providing federal prisoner right relief sentence imposed violation constitution laws obviously broad enough include claim prior conviction used anew mandate sentence enhancement acca obtained unconstitutionally new sentence violates terms acca rest exclusion claims review theory petitioner challenges underlying state convictions required like petitioner exhaust state remedies comply state procedural rules cf ed supp rose lundy coleman thompson clear requirements premised largely comity concerns state interest finality judgments see imported context federal sentence imposed petitioner completed state sentence seeks avoid sentence enhancement federal law event purport apply specific requirements setting waived state see supp gray netherland subject explicit exceptions instead imposes flat ban relief subject maybe narrow exceptions textual basis related precedent habeas law rules challenges acca sentencing predicates grounds invoked earlier bar challenges sentencing provisions acca acca easy administer state convictions carry finality ante whatever force reasons might alternative avenues challenge open even come close horsepower needed rule application choice relief relief easy subject person higher sentencing range commit nearly nine extra years prisoner colorable claim extended commitment rests conviction constitution condemn answer value finality state convictions finality valuable state law demand finality street prisoner like daniels suddenly barred returning challenge validity conviction government free reach back impose extended imprisonment sentence enhancement law unheard time earlier convictions case daniels expected anticipate federal enhancement statute enacted even blessed statutory clairvoyance practice told challenge convictions government sought rely future enhancement statute acca enacted backdrop pervasive federal practice entertaining constitutional challenges prior convictions used anew sentence enhancement practice congress threw cold water enacted acca see custis see ante suppose begrudge concession gideon exception first announced custis inexplicable one might argued custis gideon violation egregious enough excuse defendant failure resort forums still open excuse picking choosing among constitutional violations forums closed need address gideon reason ignore moore dempsey mooney holohan per curiam brown mississippi strickland washington miranda arizona brady maryland recognized violations constitution none say wrong recognize collateral review old state convictions cumbersome see ante practical consideration real world confront confront defendant acca generally paid whatever penalty old conviction entailed may well forgone direct challenge penalty practically worth challenging may well passed collateral attack counsel speak faced acca mandatory minimum old conviction suddenly well worth challenging counsel may available denying right attack convictions later attacks worth trouble adopts policy promoting challenges earlier may justify effort perhaps never odd incentive create eccentricity hardly softened likelihood defendants notice late today decision devoid support either tory language congressional intention respectfully dissent earthy daniels petitioner writ certiorari appeals ninth circuit april justice breyer dissenting believe congress intended courts read silences federal sentencing statutes permitting defendants challenge validity earlier conviction time sentencing see paleo implicitly overruled custis practice typically followed lower courts custis see souter dissenting courts follow comparable practice respect factors see dunnigan perjured testimony enhancement given appropriate burden proof rules see gilbert wicks cert denied paleo supra citing henry cert denied gallman cert denied taylor cert denied practice need prove unusually burdensome see custis supra souter dissenting rejected procedural approach custis supra must face alternative later challenge earlier convictions collateral proceeding attacks present conviction sentence resolve challenge plurality devised broad rule immunizing earlier conviction possible exception rare circumstances see ante rule may well prove unduly restrictiv ante souter dissenting exceptions may well bring additional delay still greater litigation complexity insofar plurality ties congress hands resting exception upon constitutional grounds legal inflexibility given restrictions custis placed sentencing courts inclination grant supp hearing rare circumstances hypothesized majority subject justice scalia criticism may inappropriate forum challenge see ante opinion concurring part legal problem lies source often overturn recently decided case instance earlier decision lead complexity blocks simpler procedural approach congress intended consequently believe one rare instances reconsider earlier case namely custis adopt dissenters views reason dissent footnotes justice souter concerned defendant may forgo direct challenge penalty practically worth challenging collateral attack counsel speak post dissenting opinion whatever incentives may exist time conviction fact remains avenues redress generally available sought timely manner person chooses pursue remedies knowledge conviction stay record knowledge serve incentive commit subsequent crime risk sentence crime enhanced recidivist sentencing statute comparing text justice scalia concludes congress expect challenges state convictions used enhance federal convictions brought post opinion concurring part course true also beside point subject motion circumstance enhanced federal sentence prior state conviction footnotes justice souter asserts custis merely held exception gideon violations neither acca constitution provides forum sentencing hearing challenges underlying conviction post dissenting opinion constitution provide forum sentencing hearing unconstitutional sentence basis invalid nonetheless outstanding prior convictions assuredly constitution permit unconstitutional acts custis necessarily held therefore unconstitutional gideon exception sentence basis invalid nonetheless outstanding prior convictions justice souter apparently understood time custis decided dissent began answers difficult constitutional question believe underlying statute pose question turns whether constitution permits courts enhance defendant sentence basis prior conviction defendant show obtained violation right effective assistance counsel footnotes government argues citing custis supp provide remedy constitution violated conviction facially valid used enhance sentence committing another crime brief misstates holding custis merely held one exception discussed neither acca constitution provides forum sentencing hearing challenges underlying conviction describing types fundamental errors cognizable neither custis today takes position acca properly applies statutory matter underlying sentences fact invalid see custis supra ante language invites petitioner establish statutory violation continues leave door open promises motion revise acca sentence defendant first obtained order vacating predicate conviction state collateral proceeding federal habeas review state judgment ed supp see ante custis supra plurality adds possibility exception today rule petitioner show newly discovered evidence legal disability period state custody see ante exceptions eclipse rule