The "Great Writ" of habeas corpus is a fundamental right in the Constitution that protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment. 78B-6-601. Penalty for wrongful refusal to allow writ of habeas corpus.Looking for divorce modifications in Utah? Call Melvin Cook, at 801-746-5075 to speak with an experienced Salt Lake City modifications attorney. The Writ of Habeas Corpus protects prison inmates from false imprisonment to ensure people are not thrown into jail unlawfully. The court explained that a party filing a federal habeas corpus petition must exhaust their state court remedies prior to filing the petition. Habeas Corpus is a Latin word meaning which literally means 'to have the body of'. LawHelp Interactive is a website that helps you fill out legal documents for free.