The writ of habeas corpus primarily acts as a writ of inquiry, issued to test the reasons or grounds for restraint and detention. This Chapter explains an important right—the writ of habeas corpus.Habeas corpus means demand of body. A Writ of Habeas Corpus literally means bring the body before the court, and therefor the state needs to prove why the detention is proper. A Writ of Habeas Corpus is a Latin term that literally translates to the "production of the body" before a judicial body or tribunal. The writ of habeas corpus, also known as the Great Writ, is a U.S. legal process that determines whether an offender's imprisonment is valid. 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 is a legal rule that requires a prisoner be presented in court and that the arrester prove that there is proper cause for detaining the prisoner. Scope and interpretation of this Part. 87.1 This Part contains rules about applications to the court as follows —.