Great Writ

The Great Writ is the writ of habeas corpus, which is the only writ expressly protected in the Constitution, and protected by U.S. Supreme Court decisions dating back at least to 1807. See Ex parte Bollman, 8 U.S. (4 Cranch) 75, 95, 2 L. Ed. 554 (1807) (Marshall, C.J.).

The Framers of the United States Constitution respected the writ of habeas corpus so much that they included recognition of it in this founding document. U.S. Const. art. I, § 9, cl. 2.

The Great Writ is the means available to anyone who finds himself imprisoned without justification.