Habeas Corpus: Custody, Jurisdiction, and the Limits of the Writ

Accuracy update — reviewed August 7, 2026. Habeas corpus is principally a remedy for unlawful custody or detention. A garnishment, driver’s-license suspension, passport restriction, or ordinary civil order does not automatically satisfy the custody requirement. What habeas corpus does The writ allows a court to examine the legality of a person’s custody. Federal habeas authority […]