The writ of habeas corpus, also known as the Great Writ, is a U.S. legal process that determines whether an offender's imprisonment is valid. Habeas Corpus, in the Federal Court, is a petition that claims that you are being detained against your US constitutional rights.The court explained that a party filing a federal habeas corpus petition must exhaust their state court remedies prior to filing the petition. A Writ of Habeas Corpus is a civil proceeding that is available in both State and Federal Court to challenge the legality of imprisonment. The writ of habeas corpus challenges the legality of imprisonment or detention, ensuring that no one is held without cause. I am trying to file a writ of habeas corpus for my brother that is incarcerated in wayne county jail. I need help filling it out. A writ of habeas corpus is used to bring a prisoner before the court to determine if the person's imprisonment or detention is lawful. Habeas petitions provide prisoners whose rights are being violated with a means of requesting assistance from a judge.