Category Representing Yourself (Pro Se). Petition for a Writ of Habeas Corpus under 28 USC 2241. Category.Representing Yourself (Pro Se). Habeas Corpus, in the Federal Court, is a petition that claims that you are being detained against your US constitutional rights. These are the official forms for use in Family Court proceedings. This article addresses a defendant's right to file a federal petition for a writ of habeas corpus from a conviction in a state court. Though subject to different rules, incarcerated people in both state or federal custody may petition for a federal writ of habeas corpus. What Is Habeas Corpus? A writ of habeas corpus is a judicial mandate to a prison official, usually the warden, ordering that an inmate be brought to the court. In the United Kingdom the importance and use of the writ has diminished considerably due to extensive statutory protections.