Habeas Corpus, in the Federal Court, is a petition that claims that you are being detained against your US constitutional rights. A Writ of Habeas Corpus is a civil proceeding that is available in both State and Federal Court to challenge the legality of imprisonment.Introduction. This pamphlet is intended as a general guide to assist a person in prosecuting a civil matter in the Appellate Division, Second Department. The writ of habeas corpus primarily acts as a writ of inquiry, issued to test the reasons or grounds for restraint and detention. The habeas corpus remedy offers a particularly effective means for obtaining a prompt custody determination…. The "Great Writ" of habeas corpus is a fundamental right in the Constitution that protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment. § 6.3 Writ of habeas corpus. You should use this form if. In many countries, authorities may incarcerate someone for months or years without charging them. PETITION for a writ of habeas corpus filed in the Supreme Judicial Court for the county of Suffolk on June 24, 1974.