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. The "Great Writ" of habeas corpus is a fundamental right in the Constitution that protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment.Kids DefinitionKids; Legal DefinitionLegal; More from MW. The writ of habeas corpus primarily acts as a writ of inquiry, issued to test the reasons or grounds for restraint and detention. Historical Context The relationship between the state and federal governments was one of the primary concerns of the Constitution's framers. Denny Fairfax was a British subject and had never lived in the United States. The motion of petitioner for leave to proceed in forma pauperis is denied, and the petition for a writ of habeas corpus is dismissed. Bar Counsel shall certify in the notice of appeal that he or she has ordered from the. Court Reporter a complete transcript of the. Wood, A Treatise on the Legal Remedies of Mandamus and.