Habeas corpus is a law that states that a person cannot be kept in prison unless they have first been brought before a court of law, which decides whether it is legal for them to be kept in prison.
habeas corpus in British English
(ˈheɪbɪəs ˈkɔːpəs)
noun
law
a writ ordering a person to be brought before a court or judge, esp so that the court may ascertain whether his or her detention is lawful
Word origin
C15: from the opening of the Latin writ, literally: you may have the body
habeas corpus in American English
(ˌheɪbiəs ˈkɔrpəs)
Law
any of various writs ordering a person to be brought before a court; specif., a writrequiring that a detained person be brought before a court to decide the legality of the detention or imprisonment
: in full ˌhabeas corpus ad subˌjiciˈendum (ˌæd sʌbˌdʒɪsiˈɛndəm)
Word origin
ME < L, (that) you have the body
Examples of 'habeas corpus' in a sentence
habeas corpus
She explained that she had me out on a writ of habeas corpus but there wasn't going to be any case.