A writ is essentially an order from the Court commanding a governmental entity to do something. For example, a property owner may have wrongfully been denied a permit to construct a home or a commercial business. The property owner can file a lawsuit claiming that the permit should have been issued.
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).
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.
Because a writ of habeas corpus is a lawsuit between two parties, it is governed by civil law.
The literal meaning of habeas corpus is "you should have the body"—that is, the judge or court should (and must) have any person who is being detained brought forward so that the legality of that person's detention can be assessed.
A successful Writ of Habeas Corpus in California can achieve one of the following: Release the defendant. Reduce the defendant's sentencing. Make changes to the defendant's sentencing conditions.
The Habeas Corpus Resource Center (HCRC) provides counsel to represent indigent men and women under sentence of death in California. The HCRC employs attorneys, investigators, paralegals, and other support staff.
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.
All prisoners may file a writ of habeas corpus. However, judges receive a flood of habeas corpus petitions each year, including some that inmates prepare without the assistance of a lawyer. Strict procedures govern which petitions judges may consider.