What is a writ of habeas corpus? Habeas corpus is a NATURAL right, predates the constitution.The writ of habeas corpus: A. Prevent the legislature from punishing a person without a court trial. B. Guarantee an individual the right to an attorney. The purpose of a writ of habeas corpus is to demonstrate that a particular court's decision to imprison a person was based on factual or legal error. Cunnigham - ruled that prisoners could use a writ of habeas corpus to challenge the conditions of their confinement as well as the legality of their confinement The Act authorized the President to deploy federal troops to counter the Klan and to suspend the writ of habeas corpus to make arrests without charge. In this 8th edition of the book, Elizabeth Varcarolis continues to be honored for her work with her name in the title. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like rights-are-retained, rights-are-lost, writ of habeas corpus and more. The "GAL" may be an attorney. Writ. Order.