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Rule 8.380 Petition for writ of habeas corpus filed by petitioner not represented by an attorney

Habeas Corpus Appeals and Writs

(a) Required Judicial Council form

A person who is not represented by an attorney and who petitions a reviewing court for writ of habeas corpus seeking release from, or modification of the conditions of, custody of a person confined in a state or local penal institution, hospital, narcotics treatment facility, or other institution must file the petition on Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (form HC-001). For good cause the court may permit the filing of a petition that is not on that form, but the petition must be verified.

(b) Form and content

A petition filed under (a) need not comply with the provisions of rules 8.40, 8.204, or 8.486 that prescribe the form and content of a petition and require the petition to be accompanied by a memorandum. If any supporting documents accompanying the petition are sealed or confidential records, rules 8.45-8.47 govern these documents.

(c) Number of copies

In the Court of Appeal, the petitioner must file the original of the petition under (a) and one set of any supporting documents. In the Supreme Court the petitioner must file an original and, if the petition is filed in paper form, 10 copies of the petition and an original and, if the document is filed in paper form, 2 copies of any supporting document accompanying the petition unless the court orders otherwise.

Rule 8.380 amended effective January 1, 2020; repealed and adopted as rule 60 effective January 1, 2005; previously amended and renumbered as rule 8.380 effective January 1, 2007; previously amended effective January 1, 2006, January 1, 2009, January 1, 2014, January 1, 2016, and January 1, 2018.