Habeas corpus, in other words, is a petition that asks the court to completely dismiss the charges against you over the Prosecutor's objection. Commencement of the assigned trial term, as published in the Pittsburgh Legal Journal pursuant to Local Rule 212.1(3).H. Habeas Corpus - (Latin: "you have the body") A variety of writs to bring an individual before a court or judge. Put simply, habeas corpus is a writ (petition) that can be used in a narrow set of circumstances to bring the case of a state prisoner. Commencement of the assigned trial term, as published in the Pittsburgh Legal Journal pursuant to. Local Rule 212.1(3). First, a U.S.C. § 2254 allows us to file a petition for Habeas Corpus when the client is in custody under sentence of a state court and is in a state prison. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has original jurisdiction (not exclusive jurisdiction) to issue writs of mandamus, prohibition, and habeas. "The writ of habeas corpus stands as a safeguard against imprisonment of those held in violation of the law. Prisoners to be bailable; habeas corpus.