--- title: "Clay v. United States" citation: "537 U.S. 522 (2003)" authority_id: "AUTH-SCOTUS-CLAY-537-US-522" authority_type: "case" jurisdiction: "federal_nationwide" precedential_status: "binding" official_url: "https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-537/pdf/USREPORTS-537-522.pdf" url: "https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/authorities/AUTH-SCOTUS-CLAY-537-US-522/" legal_review: "2026-08-25" links_checked: "2026-10-15" links_available: 1 links_checked_count: 1 license: "CC BY 4.0" --- # Clay v. United States ## Holding or rule used Section 2255(f)(1) finality after affirmance and no certiorari occurs when the certiorari period expires, not on mandate. ## Material limitation Use only for the bounded proposition in the linked direct-review module; actual deadlines, records, issues, waivers, local rules, and circuit applications remain separate where identified. ## Official source and pinpoints 537 U.S. 522 (2003), 537 U.S. 527–32: ## Used in - [Rehearing, Mandate, Certiorari, and Direct-Review Finality](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/50-direct-review/rehearing-mandate-certiorari-and-finality.md) - [Initial Section 2255 Motion, Filing, and Limitations](https://jason93.com/legal/federal-process/modules/60-post-conviction/2255-initial-motion-and-limitations.md)