Put simply, habeas corpus is a writ (petition) that can be used in a narrow set of circumstances to bring the case of a state prisoner. Habeas corpus is Latin, and it literally means, "Do you have 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. The government is likely to have counsel or some other competent representative. " Id. at 446-47, 449. The federal courts provide the opportunity to litigate a habeas corpus petition to challenge an unconstitutional state court conviction. In other words, the person filing the petition must be in custody at a jail, prison, or some other government detention facility. 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. This ancient legal procedure commands government to show cause—to provide a legal reason—for holding an individual in detention.