Federal habeas corpus is a procedure under which a federal court may review the legality of an individual's incarceration. The AEDPA established a one year deadline within which state and federal prisoners must file their federal habeas petitions.If you file a state post-conviction appeal, the one-year deadline will be extended while your case goes through the state post-conviction process. There is a oneyear time limit to file a federal habeas corpus petition under 28 U.S.C. s. It shall be returned within three days unless for good cause additional time, not exceeding twenty days, is allowed. The AEDPA imposes a one-year time limit from the defendant's judgment date to file a habeas corpus petition (although other dates may apply). The federal habeas corpus statute requires that the petitioner exhaust all avenues of relief open to him in the state courts before bringing a federal action.