The Latin phrase habeas corpus translates to "you have the body. Translated from Latin it means "show me the body.Federal habeas corpus is a procedure under which a federal court may review the legality of an individual's incarceration. It tests the legality of a detention or a restraint and the goal is to use it really almost i guess it's an emergency basis. If a judge finds that the prisoner is being unlawfully detained, the judge will issue a writ of habeas corpus ordering the prisoner's release. A Writ of Habeas Corpus is a civil proceeding that is available in both State and Federal Court to challenge the legality of imprisonment. Habeas corpus is a legal rule that requires a prisoner be presented in court and that the arrester prove that there is proper cause for detaining the prisoner. It allows individuals to challenge their detention in a court of law and provides a check on the executive branch's power. Habeas corpus is filed in the appellate court or submitted to a justice or judge. But in the course of the decision, the.