Rule 30.31 Original Writs in Appellate Courts

If you want to ask an appellate court for an original writ, like a writ of habeas corpus or mandamus, in a criminal case, you follow the same steps used in civil cases. Missouri Rules 84.22, 84.23, and 84.24 lay out those steps, and this rule just says those same rules apply here too.

This means the court did not create a separate set of instructions for writs in criminal cases. Instead, it points you to the existing civil rules so everyone follows one consistent process. If you are trying to file this kind of writ, you will need to look at those three civil rules to know what to include, how to format your request, and what deadlines apply.