The writ of habeas corpus, especially the so-called federal application of the writ in death-penalty cases, has created a great deal of controversy. Yet, for all of its publicity and its wide-ranging criticism, habeas corpus largely remains a little understood area of the law. This article explores the historical origins of the writ, its evolved and evolving characteristics, and discusses the four major issues it presents today. The article points out the complexities and subtleties of the legal, political, ideological and policy-making issues that have come to define both its character and its use. It also examines recent Congressional and Supreme Court attempts at reformulating the authority of the federal courts in its application.
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