Because the purpose of the petition is to gain the release of an unlawfully detained person, the reasons that justify the writ are narrowly defined. This Chapter explains an important right—the writ of habeas corpus.To use the fill-in-the-blank habeas form, you must be a person who is currently serving a sentence under a judgment against you in a state court. Except in matters of emergency, the following procedures are followed in proceedings for a writ of habeas corpus: (a) Petitioner with funds. To get a writ of habeas corpus, you must file a petition for a civil (not criminal) proceeding in either state or federal court. Habeas Corpus means a demand to produce the body whether dead or alive. Habeas is a centuriesold avenue for challenging unlawful confinement, used to seek outright release or a conditional release order. Writs of habeas corpus are used to review the legality of an arrest, imprisonment, or detention. Jones Day obtained a writ of habeas corpus for pro bono client, Terez Cook, in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Except in matters of emergency, the following procedures are followed in proceedings for a writ of habeas corpus: (a) Petitioner with funds.