The Habeas Corpus Act 1679 is an Act of Parliament in England (31 Cha. 2. c. 2) during the reign of King Charles II.An act for the better securing the liberty of the subject, and for prevention of imprisonments beyond the seas, commonly called "the habeas corpus act." Attorneys explain reasons to file and litigate a "Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus" action in Tampa and Hillsborough County, FL. Federal habeas corpus is a procedure under which a federal court may review the legality of an individual's incarceration. The writ (or court order) of habeas corpus required that anyone, including royal officials, who detained a prisoner, had to show that this detention was legal. Abstract. This chapter shows through examples that during the colonial and early national periods unlawful confinement could be redressed not only through. The English codified the writ in the Habeas Corpus Act of. 1679. Have been successful due to change in the law. This principle was solidified when King Charles II enacted the Habeas Corpus Act in 1679, further embedding it into the legal framework.