This petition, called a writ of Habeas Corpus, is filed in Federal Court (U. In United States law, habeas corpus is a recourse challenging the reasons or conditions of a person's confinement under color of law.A habeas petition proceeds as a civil action against the State agent (usually a warden) who holds the defendant in custody. Habeas corpus is a Latin phrase meaning "produce the body. The method used is habeas corpus. Understanding the Law. The overarching question is: what is the writ of habeas corpus? The term stems from the Latin meaning "you have the body" and dates back to Fourteenth Century England. What is a petition for a state writ of habeas corpus, and why would I file one? If the application is filed prior to disposition of the case, it is filed in the assigned District Court or County Criminal Court at Law.