In a Texas child custody case, a writ of Habeas Corpus may be used to challenge the custody or visitation rights of a parent or guardian and seek the return of a child who has been unlawfully removed or detained by another party.
(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.
The Court of Criminal Appeals will review these recommendations and make the final decision about whether to deny or grant relief. If an application for a writ of habeas corpus is denied at the state level, the defendant may be able to apply for a federal writ and challenge this decision.
Post-conviction relief in Texas usually takes the form of an application for a writ of habeas corpus. In a habeas corpus proceeding, a defendant may raise claims such as ineffective assistance of counsel, illegal sentencing, or newly discovered evidence that exonerates the defendant.
The petition must be legibly handwritten or typewritten and signed and dated by the petitioner, under penalty of perjury. Any false statement of an important fact may lead to prosecution for perjury. Answer all questions in the proper space on the form.
State prisoners can petition Federal courts to review the validity of their convictions and sentences; these petitions, commonly called habeas corpus petitions, allege that criminal proceedings and resulting convictions and/or sentences violated the constitutional rights of prisoners.
PETITION FOR WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS BY A PERSON IN FEDERAL CUSTODY UNDER 28 U.S.C.
Section 2241 of Title 28 of the United States Code (“28 U.S.C. § 2241”) permits courts to issue writs of habeas corpus where a prisoner establishes that he is in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.
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. If the application is filed after disposition of the case, it is filed in the Post Conviction Writ section and must be filed on the appropriate form.
State every ground (reason) that supports your claim that you are being held in violation of the Constitution, laws, or treaties of the United States. Attach additional pages if you have more than four grounds. State the facts supporting each ground. Any legal arguments must be submitted in a separate memorandum.