2024 California Rules of Court
Rule 8.380. Petition for writ of habeas corpus filed by petitioner not represented by an attorney
(a) Required Judicial Council form
A person who is not represented by an attorney and who petitions a reviewing court for writ of habeas corpus seeking release from, or modification of the conditions of, custody of a person confined in a state or local penal institution, hospital, narcotics treatment facility, or other institution must file the petition on Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus (form HC-001). For good cause the court may permit the filing of a petition that is not on that form, but the petition must be verified.
(Subd (a) amended effective January 1, 2020; previously amended effective January 1, 2006, January 1, 2007, January 1, 2009, and January 2018.)
(b) Form and content
A petition filed under (a) need not comply with the provisions of rules 8.40, 8.204, or 8.486 that prescribe the form and content of a petition and require the petition to be accompanied by a memorandum. If any supporting documents accompanying the petition are sealed or confidential records, rules 8.45-8.47 govern these documents.
(Subd (b) amended effective January 1, 2014; adopted as part of subd (a) effective January 1, 2005; previously amended and lettered effective January 1, 2009.)
(c) Number of copies
In the Court of Appeal, the petitioner must file the original of the petition under (a) and one set of any supporting documents. In the Supreme Court the petitioner must file an original and, if the petition is filed in paper form, 10 copies of the petition and an original and, if the document is filed in paper form, 2 copies of any supporting document accompanying the petition unless the court orders otherwise.
(Subd (c) amended effective January 1, 2016; adopted as part of subd (a) effective January 1, 2005; previously amended and lettered as subd (c) effective January 1, 2009.)
Rule 8.380 amended effective January 1, 2020; repealed and adopted as rule 60 effective January 1, 2005; previously amended and renumbered as rule 8.380 effective January 1, 2007; previously amended effective January 1, 2006, January 1, 2009, January 1, 2014, January 1, 2016, and January 1, 2018.
Advisory Committee Comment
Subdivision (b). Examples of confidential records include Penal Code section 1203.03 diagnostic reports, records closed to inspection by court order under People v. Marsden (1970) 2 Cal.3d 118 or Pitchess v. Superior Court (1974) 11 Cal.3d 531, in-camera proceedings on a confidential informant, and defense expert funding requests (Pen. Code, § 987.9; Keenan v. Superior Court (1982) 31 Cal.3d 424, 430).