The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it. Habeas corpus is a Latin phrase meaning "produce the body.In United States law, habeas corpus is a recourse challenging the reasons or conditions of a person's confinement under color of law. Federal habeas corpus is a procedure under which a federal court may review the legality of an individual's incarceration. A Writ of Habeas Corpus is a civil proceeding that is available in both State and Federal Court to challenge the legality of imprisonment. When the privilege of the writ is suspended, the prisoner is denied the right to secure such a writ and therefore can be held without trial indefinitely. The answer for both the North and South was the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus. This petition, called a writ of Habeas Corpus, is filed in Federal Court (U. The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it. GF-18. Order Directing (Custody) (Visitation).