← Legal Glossary
Second or successive application
Definition
A habeas corpus petition or motion filed after a prisoner has already had one full round of post-conviction review. Under AEDPA, filing such an application requires special authorization from a court of appeals panel, and the application must meet heightened substantive requirements.
Examples
- •Bowe's motion was treated as second or successive because he had previously filed a Section 2255 motion challenging his conviction.