habeas
n. C1 Advanced US //ˈhæbiəs// habeas
n. a legal term that refers to a person's right to be taken to court to explain why they are being held in prison. It is often used in the phrase 'habeas corpus'.
n. a legal principle or writ that allows a person to challenge the legality of their detention. Often used in the Latin phrase 'habeas corpus', which translates to 'you shall have the body'.
The lawyer argued that the habeas corpus was violated.
The judge ruled that the habeas corpus petition was valid and ordered the prisoner's release.
The constitutional right to habeas corpus serves as a fundamental check on executive power, ensuring that individuals are not held in custody without a fair judicial review.