The Writ of Habeas Corpus demands that requires a prisoner must go before the court to determine if there is lawful authority to detain the prisoner. Habeas corpus is a procedural device to bring child custody matters before a court.Local Rule of Civil Procedure (LRCiv) 3.5(a) provides that habeas corpus petitions must be filed on the courtapproved form. What Is Habeas Corpus? Habeas corpus is a kind of petition that you can file in federal court to claim that your imprisonment violates federal law. A writ of habeas corpus is a legal rule that gives a prisoner the right to request court assistance and show that they've been wrongfully imprisoned. And Casetext are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice. What Is Habeas Corpus? Habeas corpus is a kind of petition that you can file in federal court to claim that your imprisonment violates federal law. 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.