Habeas Corpus Rules In Harris
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A Writ of Habeas Corpus is one of the primary ways of obtaining a client's freedom based on his or her actual innocence. Actual innocence Writs of Habeas Corpus can include witness statements, affidavits, and other external evidence that shows how the client has been wrongfully convicted.
A writ of habeas corpus orders the custodian of an individual in custody to produce the individual before the court to make an inquiry concerning his or her detention, to appear for prosecution (ad prosequendum) or to appear to testify (ad testificandum).
A writ “is the remedy to be used when any person is restrained in his liberty.” Texas Code of Criminal Procedure Article 11.01. The purpose of a Writ of Habeas Corpus is for the court to determine whether it has lawfully convicted and sentenced a person.
The court must rule on a petition for writ of habeas corpus within 60 days after the petition is filed. (B) If the court fails to rule on the petition within 60 days of its filing, the petitioner may file a notice and request for ruling.
(b) An application for writ of habeas corpus filed after final conviction in a felony case, other than a case in which the death penalty is imposed, must be filed with the clerk of the court in which the conviction being challenged was obtained, and the clerk shall assign the application to that court.
An application for a Writ of Habeas Corpus is filed when a person seeks relief from unlawful detention or imprisonment. If the application is filed prior to disposition of the case, it is filed in the assigned District Court or County Criminal Court at Law.
The habeas petition must be in writing and signed and verified either by the petitioner seeking relief or by someone acting on his or her behalf. The petition must name the custodian as the respondent and state the facts concerning the applicant's custody and include the legal basis for the request.
