Habeas Corpus

Source: (Code 1966, § 300; Code 1970, tit. 9, § 101.) 9 TTC 3 §101, modified.

Cross-reference: The constitutional provision on the writ of habeas corpus is found in Art. III, Section 7 of the Chuuk Constitution. That constitutional provision reads as follows:

Section 7. The writ of habeas corpus shall exist in the State of Chuuk. The writ may not be suspended, except by the Governor and only when the public safety requires it in case of war, rebellion, insurrection, or invasion. Consideration of the writ shall take precedence over all other business of the court, and, if the court determines that there is a proper basis, the writ shall be issued without delay.

Case annotations: Habeas corpus - Scope and purpose. The scope and purpose of the writ of habeas corpus is to inquire into the cause of a person's imprisonment and restraints. In re Singeru Techur (App. Div., April, 1976); In re Yusim Minor (App. Div., April, 1976).

§ 1562. Application for writ.

Application for the writ of habeas corpus shall be made to a court or judge authorized to issue the same, ~~or to a judge of a district court~~ or a clerk of courts, by a written statement under oath signed by the party for whose relief it is intended, or by some person in his behalf. It shall set forth the facts concerning the imprisonment or restraint of the person for whose relief it is intended, and, if known, the name of the person who has custody over him, and by virtue of what claim or authority the restraint or imprisonment is being practiced.

Source: (Code 1966, § 301; Code 1970, tit. 9, § 102.) 9 TTC 3 § 103, modified.

§ 1563. Action by clerk of courts upon application for writ.

If the application for a writ of habeas corpus is made to a clerk of courts, the clerk shall immediately bring the application to the personal attention of a court or judge authorized to issue the writ~~, or a judge of the district court~~.

Source: (Code 1966, § 302; Code 1970, tit. 9, § 103.) 9 TTC 3 § 103, modified.

§ 1564. Show cause order.

A court or judge entertaining an application for a writ of habeas corpus shall issue an order directing the person against whom the writ is requested to show cause why the writ should not be granted, unless it appears from the application that the person detained is not entitled thereto. The order to show cause shall be directed to the person having custody of the person detained. The order shall set the time and place for hearing, which shall be as early as the court or judge issuing the order deems practicable, preferably within three days. The person to whom the order is directed shall at or before the time set for hearing make a return certifying the true cause of the detention and unless the application for the writ and the return present only issues of law, the person to whom the order is directed shall produce at the hearing the person detained, unless the person is so sick or so weak that this cannot with safety be done. The applicant, or the person detained may, under oath, deny any of the facts set forth in the return, or declare any other material facts. The application, the return, and any suggestions made against either of them may be amended by leave of the court or judge. If the person to whom the order is directed does not make a return as above required, or does not appear at the time and place set for hearing, the court or judge may proceed without him.

Source: (Code 1966, § 303; Code 1970, tit. 9, §104.) 9 TTC 3 § 104, modified.

§ 1565. Preliminary examination and recommendation by~~district~~ court judge.

If the application for a writ of habeas corpus is heard by a judge of the Chuuk State Supreme Court ~~a district court~~, he shall, without delay or formality, make preliminary findings of fact and recommendations as to the issuance or denial of the writ, and the disposition of the person detained, and submit these by dispatch or other speedy method to the chief justice or to the most accessible court or judge authorized to issue the writ.

Source: (Code 1966, § 304; Code 1970, tit. 9, § 105.) 9 TTC 3 § 105, modified.

§ 1566. Issuance or denial of writ.

A court or judge hearing the application for a writ of habeas corpus, and authorized to issue the writ, shall, without delay or formality, determine the facts, grant the writ unconditionally, deny the writ, or grant the writ on terms fixed by the court and discharge the person for whose relief the application has been brought or make any order as to his disposition that law and justice may require. The court or judge authorized to issue the writ and receiving the report and recommendations of a judge of a district court as provided in Section 1565 ~~105~~ of this Chapter, may act upon the matter, by dispatch or other speedy method, on the basis of the Chuuk State Supreme ~~district~~ court judge's report, or may order such further hearing or the submission of such further evidence as he deems law and justice require, and the clerk of courts ~~of the district~~ in which the matter is pending shall take such action in the matter as the judge or court may direct.

Source: (Code 1966, § 305; Code 1970, tit.9, § 106.) 9 TTC 3 § 106, modified.

Case annotations: Court cannot dismiss charges pending in criminal case on appeal. Although a defendant may be discharged from custody if the court finds, after a hearing, that a writ should issue, the court cannot reach over into the criminal proceedings and dismiss charges pending in the criminal case on appeal. (In re Singeru Techur (App. Div., April, 1976); In re Yusim Minor (App. Div., April, 1976).

§ 1567. Evidence.

On application for a writ of habeas corpus, evidence may be taken orally or by deposition, or in the discretion of the court or judge, by written statement under oath. If written statements under oath are admitted, any party shall have the right to propound written interrogatories to the person who made such statements or to file answering written statements under oath. On application for a writ of habeas corpus, documentary evidence, transcripts of proceedings upon arraignments, plea, sentence, and a transcript of the oral testimony introduced on any previous similar application by or on behalf of the same person shall be admissible in evidence. The declarations of a return to an order to show cause in a habeas corpus proceeding, if not formally denied, shall be accepted as true, except to the extent that the court or judge finds from the evidence that they are not true.

Source: (Code 1966, § 306; Code 1970, tit. 9, § 107.) 9 TTC 3 § 107, modified.

§ 1568. Appeals.

In a habeas corpus proceeding in which the final order is made by the trial division of the Chuuk State Supreme Court ~~high court~~ or a judge thereof, the final order shall be subject to appeal to the appellate division of the Chuuk State Supreme Court ~~high court~~, provided notice of appeal is filed within 30 ~~thirty~~ days after entry of the final order. The court or judge issuing the final orders may in its or his discretion stay execution of the order, admit the person imprisoned or restrained to bail pending action by the appellate division of the Chuuk State Supreme Court ~~high court~~, or direct that the final order take effect pending such action or without waiting for the time for filing such notice of appeal to expire.

Source: (Code 1966, § 307; Code 1970, tit. 9, § 108.) 9 TTC 3 § 108, modified.

	DRAFT CSC, Title 5. The Judiciary
	CHAPTER 22 Habeas Corpus § 1561. Power to grant writs of habeas corpus. § 1562. Application for writ. § 1563. Action by clerk of courts upon application for writ. § 1564. Show cause order. § 1565. Preliminary examination and recommendation by district court judge. § 1566. Issuance or denial of writ. § 1567. Evidence. § 1568. Appeals. § 1561. Power to grant writs of habeas corpus. Writs of habeas corpus may be granted by the trial division of the Chuuk State Supreme Court ~~high court~~ or any judge authorized to be assigned by the chief justice in the appellate division of the Chuuk State Supreme Court ~~high court~~. Every person unlawfully imprisoned or restrained of his liberty under any pretense whatsoever, or any person on behalf of an unlawfully imprisoned individual, may apply for a writ of habeas corpus to inquire into the cause of such imprisonment or restraint. Source: (Code 1966, § 300; Code 1970, tit. 9, § 101.) 9 TTC 3 §101, modified. Cross-reference: The constitutional provision on the writ of habeas corpus is found in Art. III, Section 7 of the Chuuk Constitution. That constitutional provision reads as follows: Section 7. The writ of habeas corpus shall exist in the State of Chuuk. The writ may not be suspended, except by the Governor and only when the public safety requires it in case of war, rebellion, insurrection, or invasion. Consideration of the writ shall take precedence over all other business of the court, and, if the court determines that there is a proper basis, the writ shall be issued without delay. Case annotations: Habeas corpus - Scope and purpose. The scope and purpose of the writ of habeas corpus is to inquire into the cause of a person's imprisonment and restraints. In re Singeru Techur (App. Div., April, 1976); In re Yusim Minor (App. Div., April, 1976). § 1562. Application for writ. Application for the writ of habeas corpus shall be made to a court or judge authorized to issue the same, ~~or to a judge of a district court~~ or a clerk of courts, by a written statement under oath signed by the party for whose relief it is intended, or by some person in his behalf. It shall set forth the facts concerning the imprisonment or restraint of the person for whose relief it is intended, and, if known, the name of the person who has custody over him, and by virtue of what claim or authority the restraint or imprisonment is being practiced. Source: (Code 1966, § 301; Code 1970, tit. 9, § 102.) 9 TTC 3 § 103, modified. § 1563. Action by clerk of courts upon application for writ. If the application for a writ of habeas corpus is made to a clerk of courts, the clerk shall immediately bring the application to the personal attention of a court or judge authorized to issue the writ~~, or a judge of the district court~~. Source: (Code 1966, § 302; Code 1970, tit. 9, § 103.) 9 TTC 3 § 103, modified. § 1564. Show cause order. A court or judge entertaining an application for a writ of habeas corpus shall issue an order directing the person against whom the writ is requested to show cause why the writ should not be granted, unless it appears from the application that the person detained is not entitled thereto. The order to show cause shall be directed to the person having custody of the person detained. The order shall set the time and place for hearing, which shall be as early as the court or judge issuing the order deems practicable, preferably within three days. The person to whom the order is directed shall at or before the time set for hearing make a return certifying the true cause of the detention and unless the application for the writ and the return present only issues of law, the person to whom the order is directed shall produce at the hearing the person detained, unless the person is so sick or so weak that this cannot with safety be done. The applicant, or the person detained may, under oath, deny any of the facts set forth in the return, or declare any other material facts. The application, the return, and any suggestions made against either of them may be amended by leave of the court or judge. If the person to whom the order is directed does not make a return as above required, or does not appear at the time and place set for hearing, the court or judge may proceed without him. Source: (Code 1966, § 303; Code 1970, tit. 9, §104.) 9 TTC 3 § 104, modified. § 1565. Preliminary examination and recommendation by~~district~~ court judge. If the application for a writ of habeas corpus is heard by a judge of the Chuuk State Supreme Court ~~a district court~~, he shall, without delay or formality, make preliminary findings of fact and recommendations as to the issuance or denial of the writ, and the disposition of the person detained, and submit these by dispatch or other speedy method to the chief justice or to the most accessible court or judge authorized to issue the writ. Source: (Code 1966, § 304; Code 1970, tit. 9, § 105.) 9 TTC 3 § 105, modified. § 1566. Issuance or denial of writ. A court or judge hearing the application for a writ of habeas corpus, and authorized to issue the writ, shall, without delay or formality, determine the facts, grant the writ unconditionally, deny the writ, or grant the writ on terms fixed by the court and discharge the person for whose relief the application has been brought or make any order as to his disposition that law and justice may require. The court or judge authorized to issue the writ and receiving the report and recommendations of a judge of a district court as provided in Section 1565 ~~105~~ of this Chapter, may act upon the matter, by dispatch or other speedy method, on the basis of the Chuuk State Supreme ~~district~~ court judge's report, or may order such further hearing or the submission of such further evidence as he deems law and justice require, and the clerk of courts ~~of the district~~ in which the matter is pending shall take such action in the matter as the judge or court may direct. Source: (Code 1966, § 305; Code 1970, tit.9, § 106.) 9 TTC 3 § 106, modified. Case annotations: Court cannot dismiss charges pending in criminal case on appeal. Although a defendant may be discharged from custody if the court finds, after a hearing, that a writ should issue, the court cannot reach over into the criminal proceedings and dismiss charges pending in the criminal case on appeal. (In re Singeru Techur (App. Div., April, 1976); In re Yusim Minor (App. Div., April, 1976). § 1567. Evidence. On application for a writ of habeas corpus, evidence may be taken orally or by deposition, or in the discretion of the court or judge, by written statement under oath. If written statements under oath are admitted, any party shall have the right to propound written interrogatories to the person who made such statements or to file answering written statements under oath. On application for a writ of habeas corpus, documentary evidence, transcripts of proceedings upon arraignments, plea, sentence, and a transcript of the oral testimony introduced on any previous similar application by or on behalf of the same person shall be admissible in evidence. The declarations of a return to an order to show cause in a habeas corpus proceeding, if not formally denied, shall be accepted as true, except to the extent that the court or judge finds from the evidence that they are not true. Source: (Code 1966, § 306; Code 1970, tit. 9, § 107.) 9 TTC 3 § 107, modified. § 1568. Appeals. In a habeas corpus proceeding in which the final order is made by the trial division of the Chuuk State Supreme Court ~~high court~~ or a judge thereof, the final order shall be subject to appeal to the appellate division of the Chuuk State Supreme Court ~~high court~~, provided notice of appeal is filed within 30 ~~thirty~~ days after entry of the final order. The court or judge issuing the final orders may in its or his discretion stay execution of the order, admit the person imprisoned or restrained to bail pending action by the appellate division of the Chuuk State Supreme Court ~~high court~~, or direct that the final order take effect pending such action or without waiting for the time for filing such notice of appeal to expire. Source: (Code 1966, § 307; Code 1970, tit. 9, § 108.) 9 TTC 3 § 108, modified.