HABEAS CORPUS

In common law countries, habeas corpus (/'heɪbiəs 'kɔɹpəs/), Latin for "you [should] have the body", is the name of a legal instrument or writ by means of which detainees can seek release from unlawful imprisonment. A writ of habeas corpus is a court order addressed to a prison official (or other custodian) ordering that a detainee be brought to the court so it can be determined whether or not that person is imprisoned lawfully and whether or not he or she should be released from custody. The writ of habeas corpus in common law countries is an important instrument for the safeguarding of individual freedom against arbitrary state action.

SOURCE: Wikipedia

In this excellent piece of work, Keith Olberman (MSNBC) discusses the consecuences of the bush´s detainee bill.

In here, Jack Cafferty (CNN) says Bush´s efforts may seek to insulate him from liability given the possible war crimes comitted in Irak.