MCA Chapter 43

in effect

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-1 To what cases the writ extends.

The writ of habeas corpus shall extend to all cases of illegal confinement or detention by which any person is deprived of his liberty, or by which the rightful custody of any person is withheld from the person entitled thereto, except in the cases expressly excepted.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-3 Chapter not to apply in certain cases — service of petition and writ on Attorney General in extradition cases.

Nothing in this chapter shall authorize the discharge of any person convicted of an offense, or charged with an offense committed in any other part of the United States, and who, agreeably to the Constitution of the United States or the laws of the state, ought to be delivered up to the executive power of the state or territory where the offense is charged to have been committed; nor of any person suffering imprisonment under lawful judgment. This chapter shall not apply to any collateral relief sought by any person following his conviction of a crime. Such relief shall be governed by the procedures prescribed in the Mississippi Uniform Post-Conviction Collateral Relief Act. Provided, in any suit filed seeking the release of any person being held for extradition to any other part of the United States, its territories or foreign countries or any suit filed hereunder seeking the release of any person ordered extradicted, a copy of the petition and writ shall be served upon the Attorney General not less than three (3) days before the date and time set for hearing thereon.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-5 Relator not discharged on account of defective proceedings.

If it appear on the trial of any habeas corpus that the relator is held by virtue of proceedings against him for crime which are invalid, the judge shall not discharge the relator because thereof, but shall investigate the facts; and if it be found that he ought to be held for any crime alleged against him, the judge shall not discharge him, but shall commit him or require bail, according to the nature of the case.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-7 By whom granted.

The writ of habeas corpus may be granted by a judge of the Supreme Court, or a judge of the circuit or chancery court, in term time or in vacation, returnable before himself or another judge.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-9 How obtained.

Application for a writ of habeas corpus shall be by petition, in writing, sworn to by the person for whose relief it is intended, or by someone in his behalf, describing where and by whom he is deprived of liberty, and the facts and circumstances of the restraint, with the ground relied on for relief; and the application shall be made to the judge or chancellor of the district in which the relator is imprisoned, unless good cause be shown in the petition to the contrary. However, any petition filed by an inmate of any training school or hospital attacking his commitment for a claimed denial of a fundamental constitutional right under the Constitution of the State of Mississippi or of the United States which would affect his commitment shall be filed in a court of the county from which he was committed. And, if filed in any other court, the judge of that court shall, if he grants the writ, make it returnable to a court of the county from which the relator was committed; and in the case of a person committed by a youth court, not less than five (5) days’ notice prior to hearing shall be given to the county attorney or district attorney of the county of commitment.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-11 Refusal to grant writ.

If from the showing made by the petition for habeas corpus it be manifest that the person by whom, or on whose behalf, it is presented is not entitled to any relief thereby, the judge or chancellor may refuse to grant the writ, indorsing on the application his reason therefor.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-13 Bail by the way may be required.

Where the application is by or on behalf of one detained on a criminal charge, the judge or chancellor, on granting the writ, may, in his discretion, require a bail bond by or on behalf of the person detained, conditioned that he shall not escape by the way. The judge or chancellor may fix the amount of such bail, and direct who shall approve the bond; but such bail bond shall not operate to discharge the relator from custody. Such bond shall be deposited by the judge or chancellor in the clerk’s office of the court in which the case is triable. If the condition of the bond be broken, the proceedings thereon shall be as in case of other forfeited bonds or recognizances.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-15 Writ issued by judge or clerk.

The judge granting the writ may order it to be issued by the Clerk of the Supreme Court, or of any circuit or chancery court, who shall immediately issue it on receiving the order; or, when not convenient to a clerk, the judge himself shall issue the writ. Any judge or chancellor who shall wilfully refuse or neglect to grant, or to issue and try, the writ of habeas corpus, when required by law to do so, shall be guilty of a high misdemeanor in office, and any clerk who shall not, when ordered, immediately issue the writ, and other process, shall be liable, on conviction thereof, to be removed from office; and the judge or clerk shall, in case of such neglect or refusal, be liable, civilly, to the party aggrieved.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-17 Form and service of writ.

The writ may be in substance, as follows, to wit: “The State of Mississippi, to : “We command you to have the body of , by you detained, as it is said, before , a judge of our court, at , forthwith (or on a given day), to do and receive what may be then and there considered concerning him. Witness my hand,” etc. Click to view And it may be served by such person as the judge granting it may direct, or by the sheriff or any constable, and it shall be served by the delivery of a true copy thereof to the person to whom it is directed, if to be found. And if it be directed to a sheriff or other officer who cannot be found, it may be served by leaving a copy with any deputy or servant of the officer to whom it is directed, at the place where the prisoner or other person is detained; and it shall be returned with an indorsement of service as in other cases.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-19 Taking of person in certain cases.

When it shall be shown to the judge to whom application is made for the writ, that there is reasonable ground to apprehend that the person in whose behalf the writ is applied for will be concealed or removed so as not to be brought up with the writ, it shall be the duty of the judge to order or issue the writ directed to the sheriff or other officer or person designated to execute it, commanding him to take the body of the person to be relieved by the writ, and bring him forthwith before the judge, and to summon the person alleged to have illegally detained him; in which case the form of the writ shall be, in substance, as follows, to wit: “The State of Mississippi. “To the sheriff or any lawful officer of county: “We command you to take and have the body of restrained of his liberty, it is said, by , before , a judge of our court, at , forthwith, to do and receive what shall then be considered; and do you summon the said to appear, then and there to show the cause of detaining said ; and have you then and there this writ, with your proceedings indorsed thereon. Witness my hand,” etc. Click to view The writ shall be executed according to its tenor and effect, and returned as other writs.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-21 May be served on Sunday.

All writs of habeas corpus may be issued or served on Sunday in case of emergency.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-23 Where and when returnable.

The writ of habeas corpus shall be returnable forthwith, or on a particular day within a reasonable time, and at a place to be named by the judge granting the writ. But when granted by a circuit judge or chancellor, on the application of any person in custody, before conviction upon a criminal charge under the laws of this state, the judge or chancellor shall cause the writ to be made returnable at a convenient place in the county in which the offense is alleged to have been committed, unless so doing will interfere with his holding of a term of court.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-25 When person detaining another guilty of crime.

Whenever the judge or chancellor, on issuing a writ of habeas corpus, shall be satisfied, by affidavit or otherwise, that the person unlawfully depriving another of his liberty has committed a crime in connection with such unlawful act, he may embody in the writ a warrant for the arrest of such person and have him brought up for examination at the hearing of the habeas corpus; and being satisfied, on the trial and examination, of the guilt of such person, the judge or chancellor shall commit him, or order his release on bail, to appear before the proper court to answer the charge.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-27 Production of the body.

Whenever any writ of habeas corpus shall be served upon the sheriff or any other person to whom the same may be directed, or who may be ordered summoned thereby, he shall bring, or permit the officer executing the writ to bring, the body of the prisoner or person detained in custody before the judge who is to try the same, at the time and place designated in the writ, or, in case of the absence of such judge, then before any other judge, and to make return or answer to said writ.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-29 What the return or answer shall contain.

The officer or other person upon whom a writ of habeas corpus shall be served shall state in his return or answer: First.—Whether he have or have not the party in his custody or under his power or restraint. Second.—If he have the party in his custody or power, or under his restraint, he shall state the authority and cause of imprisonment or restraint, setting forth the same at large. Third.—If the party be restrained by virtue of any writ, warrant, or other written authority, a copy thereof shall be annexed to the return or answer, and the original shall be produced on the hearing. Fourth.—If the officer or person upon whom the writ is served shall have had the party in his power or custody, or under his restraint, at any time prior or subsequent to the date of the writ of habeas corpus, but such person has escaped, or such officer or person has transferred the custody or restraint to another, the return or answer shall state the facts particularly, and, in case of transfer, set forth the time and place, for what cause, and by what authority the transfer took place. Fifth.—The return must be signed by the officer or person making it, and, except when a sworn public officer shall make return in his official capacity, it shall be verified by his oath.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-31 Penalty for disobedience of the writ.

Any person who is duly served with a writ of habeas corpus commanding him to produce the body of any other person in his custody, who shall fail to produce the body of the person before the judge, according to the command of the writ, shall forfeit and pay to the party not so produced the sum of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), to be recovered before any court having jurisdiction, the right to recover which shall not cease by the death of either party. The judge before whom the writ was made returnable may also punish the person failing to obey the command thereof or to perform the duties prescribed, or to obey such order as the judge may make, as for a contempt, and compel obedience by process of attachment or otherwise. Any officer from whom the custody of any person is taken by writ of habeas corpus who shall fail to return the cause of commitment of any prisoner or other person as prescribed, may be punished in like manner.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-33 The trial.

The judge or chancellor before whom the prisoner or other person may be brought, shall inquire into the cause of imprisonment or detention, and shall either discharge, commit, admit to bail, or remand the prisoner, or award the custody to the party entitled thereto, as the law and the evidence shall require; and may also award costs and charges, for or against either party, as may seem right. And the clerk of the court in whose office the proceedings may be filed, shall issue execution for the costs and charges so awarded, against the party bound therefor. But the judge may continue the trial from day to day as the case may require.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-35 Temporary orders.

The court or judge may make any temporary order in the cause during the progress of the proceedings that may be right and proper, or that justice may require.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-37 Return not conclusive.

The return or answer made to a writ of habeas corpus shall not be conclusive as to the facts therein stated, but evidence may be received to contradict the same.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-39 Witnesses subpoenaed—affidavits of.

The judge or chancellor may issue or order subpoenas for witnesses and compel their attendance, as a circuit court could in term time, and fine witnesses or others for contempt. Whenever the personal attendance of a witness cannot be procured, his affidavit, taken on reasonable notice to the adverse party, may be received in evidence.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-41 Record of proceedings.

The proceedings and judgment shall in all cases be entered of record. If the trial be in vacation, the proceedings shall be written out and signed by the judge or chancellor and deposited with the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which the habeas corpus is tried, unless the judge shall direct it to be deposited with such clerk of some other county. If either party require it, the evidence shall be made a part of the record by bill of exceptions, as in other cases.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-43 Conclusiveness of judgment.

The judgment rendered on the trial of any writ of habeas corpus shall be conclusive until reversed, and, whilst so in force, shall be a bar to another habeas corpus in the same cause, or to any other proceedings, to bring the same matter again in question, except by appeal or by action for false imprisonment; nor shall any person so discharged be afterward confined for the same cause, except by a court of competent jurisdiction.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-45 Sheriff to attend trial.

The sheriff, when required by the judge or chancellor, shall attend in person, or by deputy, upon the trial of a habeas corpus in his county, to keep order and execute the mandates of the judge or chancellor, and shall be subject to the orders of the judge or chancellor during the trial in vacation in the same manner as in term time. The judge or chancellor trying a habeas corpus in vacation shall have the same power to fine and imprison for contempt as in term time.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-47 Costs in certain cases, and security for.

When the application for a writ of habeas corpus is in the nature of a civil action between parties, the law providing for security for costs shall be applicable; and in such cases persons who may produce the body of another, or render other services, may be allowed the same fees as allowed by law to officers for the same services, the costs to be taxed and collected as in other cases.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-49 Defaulting witness dealt with.

If a witness shall not obey the subpoena served on him in case of habeas corpus, the judge or chancellor may not only issue, or cause the clerk to issue, an attachment for the witness, but shall indorse on the subpoena the default of the witness and a fine therefor, and file it with the other papers in the clerk’s office of the proper circuit court. Scire facias shall issue for the witness, returnable before the court, and proceedings shall be had as provided in case of a defaulting witness in the circuit court.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-51 Liabilities and rights of witnesses.

Witnesses in a habeas corpus case shall be subject to the same penalties, and be entitled to the same privileges and compensation, and be paid in the same way, as in other cases. They may prove their attendance before the clerk in whose office the record of the proceeding is filed, and obtain from him a certificate of their attendance and of the compensation to which they are entitled, as in cases in the circuit courts; or the judge trying the case may give the witnesses certificates of their attendance and the compensation to which they are entitled, which shall have the same effect as such certificates in a like case by the clerk.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-53 Appeal in habeas corpus.

Any party aggrieved by the judgment on the trial of a habeas corpus, shall have an appeal to the Supreme Court. If any person held in service by this state, or by the United States, should be discharged by any judge in vacation, or any court, on habeas corpus, the Attorney General or any district attorney, or any attorney duly authorized by the United States, may in like manner obtain an appeal to reverse the judgment by which such person was discharged.

Miss. Code Ann. § 11-43-55 Procedure on appeal from judgment on habeas corpus.

An appeal from a judgment on the trial of a writ of habeas corpus may be had by or in behalf of the person deprived of his liberty on the same terms and conditions as are provided for in criminal cases; but such appeal shall not entitle a party to be discharged on bail in any case held not to be one in which the party is entitled to bail. In all other cases, an appeal from a judgment on trial of a writ of habeas corpus may be had on their terms prescribed for appeals in civil cases, where a supersedeas is not desired.