The writ of habeas corpus primarily acts as a writ of inquiry, issued to test the reasons or grounds for restraint and detention. A writ of habeas corpus is a legal order that requires a person who is holding another person in custody to bring the detainee before a court.A writ of habeas corpus refers to (A) a person's right to know the reasons for his or her imprisonment (B) a person's right to not be charged for an action. The "Great Writ" of habeas corpus is a fundamental right in the Constitution that protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment. Writ of Habeas Corpus. Questions on the AP US Government Exam generally fall into three categories, and the verbs used in the questions should reveal what the question is asking for. Habeas Corpus, in the Federal Court, is a petition that claims that you are being detained against your US constitutional rights. Writ of Habeas Corpus. Definition. Carry Out Car Sarvlea . . Appellate jurisdiction refers to the authority to hear appeals from a lower court's decision.