Opinion ID: 4017057
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Original Writ of Habeas Corpus

Text: “The Judiciary Act of 1789, ch. 20, § 14, 1 Stat. 81–82, empowered federal courts to issue writs of habeas corpus to prisoners ‘in custody, under or by colour of the authority of the United States.’” McCleskey v. Zant, 499 U.S. 467, 477-78 (1991). “In 1867, the writ was made available to any federal prisoner ‘restrained of his or her liberty in violation of the constitution, or of any treaty or law of the United States.’” Triestman v. United States, 124 F.3d 361, 373 (2d Cir. 1997) (quoting Act of February 5, 1867, ch. 28 § 1, 14 Stat. 385). The original habeas statute survives today in § 2241, which extends habeas corpus to federal prisoners “in custody in violation of the Constitution or laws or treaties of the United States.” § 2241(c)(3); see Brian R. Means, Postconviction Remedies § 5:7 (2015).