This form is a Petition For Writ Of Habeas Corpus By Person In State Custody based on Lack of Voluntariness of confession and Ineffective Assistance of Counsel. Adapt to your specific circumstances. Don't reinvent the wheel, save time and money.
18. What Is A Writ Of Habeas Corpus And When Can It Be Suspended In Palm Beach
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WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS AND ITS FUNCTIONS Today, habeas corpus is mainly used as a post-conviction remedy for state or federal prisoners who challenge the legality of the application of federal laws that were used in the judicial proceedings that resulted in their detention.
Article I, Section 9, Clause 2: The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
The "Great Writ" of habeas corpus is a fundamental right in the Constitution that protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment. Translated from Latin it means "show me the body." Habeas corpus has historically been an important instrument to safeguard individual freedom against arbitrary executive power.
Typically, prisoners use it after their challenge to the court of appeals fails. Habeas corpus often serves as a last resort for inmates who insist that the government unjustly imprisoned them.
When you file a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, you are asking a judge for a hearing to determine whether your imprisonment is lawful. This hearing is not another trial. Instead of deciding whether you were guilty or not, the judge will evaluate the fairness of the procedure used to convict and sentence you.
A writ of habeas corpus is used to bring a prisoner or other detainee (e.g. institutionalized mental patient) before the court to determine if the person's imprisonment or detention is lawful. A habeas petition proceeds as a civil action against the State agent (usually a warden) who holds the defendant in custody.
Explanation: A judge will grant a writ of habeas corpus in circumstances where a detained individual challenges the legality of their imprisonment. This legal procedure, which translates to "you have the body," requires state or federal authorities to demonstrate a lawful cause for the detention.
Typical examples where a court has granted a habeas corpus petition include claims of new evidence discovered in the case, ineffective assistance of counsel, prosecutorial misconduct, incompetence to stand trial, and challenging conditions of confinement.
Because the courts have many cases, a petition for habeas corpus can take a long time. In general, habeas petitions take at least 6 months, and in most cases you will not receive a final decision for at least 10 months. Do not expect that just filing a petition will result in your quick release.
The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.