Abstract
The Writ of Habeas Corpus has been called the Great Writ because its purpose is to prevent the State from incarcerating an individual illegally. Spurred by the U. S. Supreme Court under the direction of former Chief Justice Earl Warren, the use of federal habeas corpus by state prisoners was expanded during the 1960s. This change led to the charge that the Court had deviated from the historical purpose of the writ of habeas corpus. However, the Court under the direction of former Chief Justice Warren Burger and current Chief Justice William Rehnquist has severely curtailed state prisoners' access to federal habeas corpus. This paper reviews the history of the writ of habeas corpus, examines the charge that the Warren Court deviated from the writ's historical purpose, and concludes that a state prisoner's access to federal habeas corpus is a rapidly fading right.
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