A writ of habeas corpus allows you to make arguments that you can't make in an appeal. A writ of habeas corpus is used to bring a prisoner or other detainee (e.g.The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended except in cases of rebellion or invasion when the public safety may require it. The Habeas Corpus petition claims the arrest, sentence, or trial violated constitutional law, making imprisonment unlawful. The writ of habeas corpus is a legal order requiring a person holding another person to produce that individual before a court or judge. 119 This means that if the Supreme Court decides a rule, test, or standard in a case that is decided after your direct review was complete, you generally. The absence of counsel in post-conviction hearings stems, in the first in- stance, from the financial inability of the vast majority of prisoners to employ. How to File Habeas Corpus and Compassionate Release David is a law school graduate and former practicing attorney. Federal Court Interpreters Interpreters ensure that justice is carried out fairly for defendants and other stakeholders. The Illinois Supreme Court is the highest court in the State.