---
title: "Appeal"
citation: "28 U.S.C. § 2253"
authority_id: "AUTH-USC-28-2253"
authority_type: "statute"
jurisdiction: "federal_nationwide"
precedential_status: "binding_enacted_positive_law_title"
official_url: "https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/28/2253"
url: "https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/authorities/AUTH-USC-28-2253/"
legal_review: "2026-08-25"
links_checked: "2026-10-15"
links_available: 1
links_checked_count: 1
license: "CC BY 4.0"
---

# 28 U.S.C. § 2253

## Propositions supported

- Subsection (a) makes a final district-court habeas or § 2255 order subject to appellate review.
- Subsection (c)(1)(A) requires a COA for a final habeas order when the detention complained of arises from state-court process.
- Subsection (c)(1)(B) separately requires a COA for a final § 2255 order.
- The statute contains no COA category for a federal-process § 2241 final order.

## Material limitations

Section 2253 does not supply notice timing, local appellate procedure, or interlocutory appealability.

## Official source

OLRC preliminary edition, laws in effect August 17, 2026: <https://www.govinfo.gov/link/uscode/28/2253>


## 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)
- [Section 2255 Screening, Hearing, Appeal, and Postjudgment Motions](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/60-post-conviction/2255-procedure-hearing-appeal-and-postjudgment.md)
- [Extraordinary Writs — Coram Nobis, Audita Querela, and Mandamus](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/60-post-conviction/extraordinary-writs-coram-nobis-audita-querela-and-mandamus.md)
- [Rules 35 and 36 — Sentence Correction, Assistance, Record Error, and Appeals](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/70-sentence-modification/rules-35-36-and-modification-appeals.md)
- [Supreme Court and Nationwide Floor](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/95-circuit-overlays/supreme-court.md)
- [First Circuit Overlay](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/95-circuit-overlays/first-circuit.md)
- [Second Circuit Overlay](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/95-circuit-overlays/second-circuit.md)
- [Third Circuit Overlay](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/95-circuit-overlays/third-circuit.md)
- [Fifth Circuit Overlay](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/95-circuit-overlays/fifth-circuit.md)
- [Sixth Circuit Overlay](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/95-circuit-overlays/sixth-circuit.md)
- [Seventh Circuit Overlay](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/95-circuit-overlays/seventh-circuit.md)
- [Eighth Circuit Overlay](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/95-circuit-overlays/eighth-circuit.md)
- [Ninth Circuit Overlay](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/95-circuit-overlays/ninth-circuit.md)
- [Tenth Circuit Overlay](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/95-circuit-overlays/tenth-circuit.md)
- [Eleventh Circuit Overlay](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/95-circuit-overlays/eleventh-circuit.md)
- [D.C. Circuit Overlay](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/95-circuit-overlays/dc-circuit.md)