Issues which may be raised on habeas corpus; timeliness requirements for filing the writ; format and specific Sixth District's procedures. 1. Fill out the Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus. 2.Date and sign the petition under penalty of perjury. 3. This manual explains how someone without a lawyer can file a petition for writ of habeas corpus in the California state courts. 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 protects prison inmates from false imprisonment to ensure people are not thrown into jail unlawfully. The purpose of the petition is to request the court to order the detainee's release or take other appropriate actions to remedy the situation. After you file, the court will review the petition. If the court finds merit in the claims, it may issue a writ of habeas corpus. They must have also filed a direct appeal to the appellate court and then to the California Supreme Court.