Habeas corpus

//ˌheɪbiəs ˈkɔːpəs// noun, verb, slang

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A writ ordering that a person be brought before a court or a judge, most frequently used to ensure that a person's imprisonment, detention, or commitment is legal.

    "While Trump has not explicitly mentioned habeas corpus in public, it’s what he was referencing last month when he commented on steps he could take to combat nationwide injunctions against his actions on deportations, according to one of the people familiar with the talks."

  2. 2
    the civil right to obtain a writ of habeas corpus as protection against illegal imprisonment wordnet
  3. 3
    a writ ordering a prisoner to be brought before a judge wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To apply the legal principle of habeas corpus to an individual or situation. informal, transitive

    "Hawley […] particularly desired, judging by his actions, to put polygamists out of existence, at the same time very mercifully habeas corpused all the prostitutes and their supporters[.]"

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Latin habeas corpus ad subiciendum (“You (shall) have the body to be subjected to (examination)”), referring to the body of the detainee (not the body of a victim, similar to corpus delicti).

Etymology 2

From Latin habeas corpus ad subiciendum (“You (shall) have the body to be subjected to (examination)”), referring to the body of the detainee (not the body of a victim, similar to corpus delicti).

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