How to Use writ of habeas corpus in a Sentence

writ of habeas corpus

noun phrase
  • The defendant must apply for a writ of habeas corpus in the state district court where they were convicted.
    — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 12 May 2026
  • Earlier this month, Post’s attorney filed a writ of habeas corpus for bond reduction, according to Collin County online court records.
    — Suryatapa Chakraborty, Dallas Morning News, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Smart’s attorneys argued that her trial was unfair and unconstitutional in a 169-page petition for writ of habeas corpus.
    — Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 7 Jan. 2026
  • Federal attorneys didn’t argue if arrest was justified Castañeda Mondragón filed a writ of habeas corpus to challenge the legality of his detention.
    — Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 2 June 2026
  • Lawyers working on their behalf filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus, an ancient judicial principle forbidding the government from holding anyone in custody without providing a legally tenable reason for doing so.
    — A.o. Scott, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
  • In 1850, enslavers even voided the writ of habeas corpus and its due process protections against unlawful detention by pushing through a national Fugitive Slave Law.
    — Time, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Counsel for the El Gamal family have filed emergency motions in the Western District of Texas and the Fifth Circuit, as well as a new petition for a writ of habeas corpus in the District of Colorado.
    — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
  • DeSantis’ order noted that in 2007 the Florida Supreme Court affirmed the trial court order denying Willacy’s motion for postconviction relief and his petition for writ of habeas corpus, challenging the government’s authority for his imprisonment.
    — News Service Of Florida, Sun Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026
  • In 2021, after more than a dozen unsuccessful appeals and with the help of the Northern California Innocence Project, Sacramento Superior Court found Puckett factually innocent of all charges following the granting of a writ of habeas corpus by the California Supreme Court.
    — Theresa Clift, Sacbee.com, 4 Mar. 2026

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'writ of habeas corpus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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