Translated from Latin it means "show me the body. A Writ of Habeas Corpus is a motion which is filed most frequently to ensure that a Defendant's imprisonment or detention is not illegal.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. Latin, meaning "you have the body. Habeas corpus, a legal mechanism dating back to the 1200s, is designed to relieve "persons" from illegal confinement. Legal arguments in a habeas corpus case are usually done through written motions.