Habeas Corpus, in the Federal Court, is a petition that claims that you are being detained against your US constitutional rights. In fact, "habeas corpus" is Latin for "you have the body.A Writ of Habeas Corpus is a civil proceeding that is available in both State and Federal Court to challenge the legality of imprisonment. Translated from Latin it means "show me the body. A writ of habeas corpus is a powerful legal tool that allows individuals to challenge a criminal conviction or sentence. A writ of habeas corpus is a powerful legal tool that allows individuals to challenge a criminal conviction or sentence. Any prisoner, or another person acting on their behalf, may petition the court, or a judge, for a writ of habeas corpus. The "Great Writ" of habeas corpus is a fundamental right in the Constitution that protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment. Criminal Law and Federal Habeas Corpus for State Prisoners, 76 HARV. The required application for a person currently incarcerated in TDCJ to file for a writ of habeas corpus under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 11.07.