---
title: "Bruce v. Warden Lewisburg USP"
citation: "Bruce v. Warden Lewisburg USP, 868 F.3d 170 (3d Cir. 2017)"
authority_id: "AUTH-CA3-BRUCE-868-F3D-170"
authority_type: "case"
jurisdiction: "federal_third_circuit"
precedential_status: "binding_in_third_circuit"
official_url: "https://www2.ca3.uscourts.gov/opinarch/144284p.pdf"
url: "https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/authorities/AUTH-CA3-BRUCE-868-F3D-170/"
legal_review: "2026-08-25"
links_checked: "2026-10-15"
links_available: 1
links_checked_count: 1
license: "CC BY 4.0"
---

# Bruce v. Warden Lewisburg USP

## Proposition supported

The § 2253(c) COA requirements did not apply to Bruce's appeal from denial of his federal saving-clause § 2241 petition.

## Material limitations

*Jones v. Hendrix*, 599 U.S. 465 (2023), displaced *Bruce*'s saving-clause merits framework to the extent inconsistent. This card uses only the unaffected COA proposition. It is binding only in the Third Circuit, though the COA classification follows the nationwide statutory text. A comprehensive commercial citator was not run.

## Official source and pinpoint

Third Circuit precedential opinion, 868 F.3d 177 n.3: <https://www2.ca3.uscourts.gov/opinarch/144284p.pdf>


## Used in

- [28 U.S.C. § 2241 — Appeal, Certificate of Appealability, and Relief](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/60-post-conviction/2241-appeal-and-relief.md)
- [Third Circuit Overlay](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/95-circuit-overlays/third-circuit.md)