HABEAS CORPUS

in law, writ protecting personal liberty of the citizen. Where a person is detained on criminal charge without being brought to trial, or where he is unlawfully detained by pone individuals, any one may on his alf apply for writ of H.C. commanding warden of prison, or person detaining the individual on whose behalf the request is made, to bring him before the court in order that the reasons for his detention may be investigated; if there by no sufficient reason, the court will then order him to be set at liberty, or, if he is a child, will order him to be given up to his lawful guardians, Writ must be i ued by judge on good reason being shown. The act was pa ed in 1679, The right of habeas corpus is secured by the Constitution of the United States, and has been incorporated into the jurisCae and Constitution of every ate.