The following steps should be followed when filing a Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. 1. Go to Civil on the blue bar located at the top of the screen.Plaintiff: Use this form to obtain the presence of a witness in a civil or criminal case. On July 28, 2010, petitioner filed a pro se petition for a writ of certiorari in the North Carolina Supreme Court, which was dismissed on August 26, 2010. File No. In The General Court Of Justice. District Superior Court Division. A habeas corpus petition is used to argue that a person is being unlawfully held in custody, and should be released. The attendance of a defendant being held in custody can still be secured through a traditional Application and Writ of Habeas Corpus Ad Prosequendum. The records of the US Circuit Court for the District of Columbia contain a series of approximately 450 habeas corpus cases dating from 1820 to 1863. In the appendices of this handbook you will find sample forms, and addresses of all U.S. District Courts.