"The writ of habeas corpus is a common law writ, having for its great object the liberation of persons imprisoned without sufficient cause.". Instructions and form for filing a petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 USC § 2254.Habeas Corpus (Trans: you have the body) -- A writ which brings a person before a court. State criminal convictions are challenged using 28 U.S.C. § 2254 forms. In United States law, habeas corpus is a recourse challenging the reasons or conditions of a person's confinement under color of law. 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. The law in the area is an intricate weave of statute and case law. The Latin phrase habeas corpus translates to "you have the body.