Habeas corpus

Definition

A legal procedure allowing a person in government custody to challenge the legality of their detention. It is the traditional remedy for prisoners who believe their conviction or sentence is unlawful. Heck sought to prevent plaintiffs from using Section 1983 as an end-run around habeas procedures.

Examples

• •The government argued Heck's limits on 1983 exist to prevent conflict with habeas corpus procedures, but those concerns are absent when the plaintiff is not in custody

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