In most cases, you are not entitled to a lawyer and have to convince the court to give you one. At trial, Gideon appeared in court without an attorney.In open court, he asked the judge to appoint counsel for him because he could not afford an attorney. The cases included here are cited as examples only and do not represent an exhaustive search of the case law in all federal circuits. 1. The petition for writ of habeas corpus form is designed to help you prepare a petition seeking relief pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 2254. Contact an award-winning Writ of Habeas Corpus lawyer today. If you did seek review in the U.S. Supreme Court, then the federal statute does not begin to run until after the U.S. Supreme Court decides the case. Developments in the Law-Federal Habeas Corpus, 83 Harv.L.Rev. If the petitioner loses in the superior court, he or she must file a new petition for writ of habeas corpus in the court of appeal. Supporting facts: Tell your story briefly without citing cases or law.