habeas corpus ha‧be‧as cor‧pus [ˌheɪbiəs ˈkɔːpəs ǁ -ˈkɔːr-] noun [uncountable]
LAW the right of someone in prison to come to a court of law so that the court can decide whether they should stay in prison:
• 40% of habeas corpus appeals are successful.
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habeas corpus UK US noun [U] LAW
► the right of someone who is in prison to appear in court so that a judge can decide whether that person is being kept in prison legally: »
The new legislation would restore habeas corpus rights to all detainees in U.S. custody.
»habeas corpus appeals/petitions/proceedings
Financial and business terms. 2012.