Rule 4.560 Application of article

When someone who has been sentenced to death wants to challenge their conviction or sentence, they can file a special type of court petition called a habeas corpus petition. This rule explains that the procedures in this section of the California Rules of Court apply specifically to those cases in the superior court.

These rules only cover death penalty cases, not other types of habeas corpus petitions. If you or someone you know is involved in this type of case, the specific steps and deadlines in this article are the ones that apply.