A habeas corpus petition attacking a criminal conviction or sentence shall be filed within two years from the date of final judgment in the trial court. Origin. Habeas corpus derives from the English common law where the first recorded usage was in 1305, in the reign of King Edward I of England.To use this form, you must be a person who is or will be serving a sentence under a judgment against you in a state court. Federal habeas corpus is a procedure under which a federal court may review the legality of an individual's incarceration. The federal habeas petition has to be filed in the United States District Court that sits in the District covering the circuit court of conviction and sentence. This petition, called a writ of Habeas Corpus, is filed in Federal Court (US District Court ) whether you are serving time in a federal or state prison. Do outside research to find out how habeas law applies to you. Of the West Virginia Code. For petitions filed in any circuit court in the State, all of the rules apply. A petition for a writ of habeas corpus is a legal challenge to the lawfulness of a person's imprisonment.