Josh Duggar’s bid to overturn conviction rejected as judge calls his claims 'not credible'

A federal judge has denied Josh Duggar’s latest attempt to overturn his child sexual abuse material conviction, ruling that his arguments were not credible and failing to meet required legal standards.

According to People, US District Judge Timothy L Brooks rejected Duggar’s motion to vacate his conviction after finding that it was filed after the legal deadline and did not satisfy the requirements for consideration under the “prison mailbox rule.” The rule allows filings to be considered timely if they are properly submitted through prison mailing systems before the deadline.

Duggar, who is serving a 12-year federal prison sentence following his 2021 conviction for receiving and possessing child sexual abuse material, argued that his filing should still be accepted due to procedural issues surrounding when it was submitted. However, the court determined that records showed the motion was not received until well after the cutoff date in 2025.

In his ruling, Judge Brooks strongly criticised Duggar’s explanation of events, stating that the sequence of circumstances he described was not believable and “defies common sense,” ultimately concluding that his account was “simply not credible.”

The judge also noted discrepancies in the timing of Duggar’s filings, including delays between when documents were allegedly submitted and when they were received by prosecutors and the court.

Duggar’s legal team had argued that his conviction should be reconsidered based on constitutional claims and alleged procedural violations, but the court declined to revisit the substance of the case due to the filing issues.

The former reality television star, known for TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting, was sentenced in 2022 and is currently incarcerated at FCI Seagoville in Texas. His projected release date is in 2033, followed by a lengthy period of supervised release.

The latest ruling marks another setback in Duggar’s ongoing attempts to challenge his conviction, all of which have so far been unsuccessful in federal and appellate courts.