This manual explains how someone without a lawyer can file a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the California state courts. The court must rule on a petition for writ of habeas corpus within 60 days after the petition is filed.The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it. By petitioning for a writ, you are asking the court to determine whether your conviction or sentence is illegal. A writ of habeas corpus can be very. A Writ of Habeas Corpus is one of the primary ways of obtaining a client's freedom based on his or her actual innocence. In United States law, habeas corpus is a recourse challenging the reasons or conditions of a person's confinement under color of law. Habeas corpus is a Latin term meaning "you have the body. " Lawyers might petition for a " writ " (or court order) of habeas corpus. For example, Article 296(b) of the 2008 Constitution, and Chapter 2 Section 3 of the.