By petitioning for a writ, you are asking the court to determine whether your conviction or sentence is illegal. A writ of habeas corpus can be very powerful because if the court accepts your argument, the court can order your immediate release, a new trial, or a new sentencing hearing.
Only Congress has the power to suspend the writ of habeas corpus, either by its own affirmative actions or through an express delegation to the Executive. The Executive does not have the independent authority to suspend the writ.
These limited exceptions include a constitutional error with grave magnitude, the actual innocence argument, or a wrongful death penalty conviction. Please note these are very limited exceptions and courts are not inclined to accept your California Writ of Habeas Corpus if you unduly delayed.
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.
Any order denying a petition for writ of habeas corpus must contain a brief statement of the reasons for the denial. An order only declaring the petition to be "denied" is insufficient. (Subd (g) amended and relettered effective January 1, 2002; adopted as subd (e) effective January 1, 1982.)
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.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That during the present rebellion, the President of the United States, whenever in his judgment the public safety may require it, is authorized to suspend the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in any ...
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.
A motion may be withdrawn at any time prior to its return date by filing with the clerk a written request signed by counsel for the moving party. A request to withdraw a motion after submission must be supported by a stipulation of withdrawal signed by all counsel.
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.