A writ of habeas corpus is a legal order that requires the custodian to bring the detained individual before a court or judge. Learn how a writ of habeas corpus can challenge unlawful detention, potentially reducing or overturning convictions even after appeals fail.This article will explain everything you need to know about your habeas corpus rights, filing requirements, and more. The "Great Writ" of habeas corpus is a fundamental right in the Constitution that protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment. A writ of habeas corpus stands as a vital legal tool, essential for safeguarding individual rights and averting arbitrary detention. A habeas corpus petition cannot act as a second direct appeal. A writ of habeas corpus is a court order to a warden or jailer to bring a prisoner to court. The "Great Writ" of habeas corpus is a fundamental right in the Constitution that protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment. 1 A term like "habeas corpus," as another example, has little meaning to one not fully immersed in the legal waters of the American system of justice. That petition was transferred to Riverside County Superior Court where it was denied on March 14, 2004.