(A) On filing, the clerk of the court must immediately deliver the petition to the presiding judge or his or her designee. This manual explains how someone without a lawyer can file a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the California state courts.The Writ of Habeas Corpus protects prison inmates from false imprisonment to ensure people are not thrown into jail unlawfully. This petition must be clearly handwritten in ink or typed. You should exercise care to make sure all answers are true and correct. When we wrote this Informational Material we did our best to give you useful and accurate information because we know that prisoners often have difficulty. The writ of Habeas Corpus is the legal system's last line of defense against unlawful incarceration. A federal writ of habeas corpus is a legal remedy available to state and federal prisoners who object to their detention or imprisonment. An application for a writ of habeas corpus must be made to the appropriate district court. Add the Writ of Habeas Corpus Ad Testificandum - Superior Court, Sacramento - saccourt ca for redacting.