A habeas corpus petition attacking a criminal conviction or sentence shall be filed within two years from the date of final judgment in the trial court. Under Virginia law, habeas corpus is a civil proceeding used to challenge and remedy due process violations.The original Complaint must be filed with the Civil Intake Section located on the 3rd floor of the Fairfax County Courthouse. Federal habeas corpus is a procedure under which a federal court may review the legality of an individual's incarceration. The "Great Writ" of habeas corpus is a fundamental right in the Constitution that protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment. You may print out and bring the forms with you, or the Clerk's Office can provide forms for you to fill out. Ask them to fill out and sign a declaration. The commonwealth has tough laws and strict judges, and for the past 40 years Fairfax had Robert Horan, the most feared prosecutor in the area. The "Great Writ" of habeas corpus is a fundamental right in the Constitution that protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment. This includes any subset of Army lawyers, from new legal assistance attorneys to staff judge advocates and military judges.