§660-3  Issuable by whom.  The supreme
court, the justices thereof, and the circuit courts may issue writs of habeas
corpus in cases in which persons are unlawfully restrained of their liberty;
provided that persons committed or detained by order of the family court or
under chapter 334 may, and if the jurisdiction of the family court is
exclusive, shall, prosecute their applications in the family court. [L 1870, c
32, §32; am L 1893-4, c 75, §1; am L 1903, c 79, §3; RL 1925, §2727; RL 1935,
§4312; RL 1945, §10353; RL 1955, §239-3; HRS §660-3; am L 1972, c 90, §5(a



Cross References



 



  See §602-5.



  Exclusive jurisdiction of family court, in what cases, see
§§571-11, 14.



 



Case Notes



 



  Writ sought on behalf of following types of persons:  Attache
of foreign legation.  1 H. 353.  Deserting seamen.  2 H. 112; 6 H. 704. 
Persons detained on shipboard.  3 H. 503.  Fugitives held for extradition.  5
H. 573; 20 H. 319; 21 H. 526; 48 H. 508, 405 P.2d 309.  Insane persons.  19 H.
346; 19 H. 576; 3 U.S.D.C. Haw. 404.  Lepers.  19 H. 218; 2 U.S.D.C. Haw. 227. 
Minors.  29 H. 830; 31 H. 328; 32 H. 731; 33 H. 106.  For relief against cruel
and unusual punishment.  31 H. 982.  As means of enforcing foreign decree
awarding custody of children.  49 H. 20, 407 P.2d 885.



  Relief from commitment may be had on habeas corpus:  Under
statute authorizing arrest of debtors about to abscond.  1 H. 340; 6 H. 633. 
Relief from commitment for alleged contempt.  13 H. 575; 18 H. 670; 44 H. 271,
353 P.2d 631.



  No release of persons convicted and restrained by virtue of
judgment unless judgment is void.  7 H. 95; 13 H. 102; 15 H. 276; 17 H. 338; 20
H. 120; 3 U.S.D.C. Haw. 502; 211 U.S. 146; 25 H. 414, 417.



  Form of mittimus:  Failure to completely describe the offense
in the mittimus not ground for issuance of writ where record shows valid
sentence.  6 H. 343; 7 H. 95, 103-4.  A mittimus correct in form and substance
is a good defense to a claim of illegal imprisonment.  18 H. 500.  Where
mittimus of magistrate exceeded jurisdiction in imposition of fine in addition
to imprisonment held separable and valid as to imprisonment.  23 H. 766.



  Sentence must be void on its face in order to entitle
convicted person to release on habeas corpus.  2 H. 444; 9 H. 131; 10 H. 610;
17 H. 487.  See 6 H. 664; 7 H. 42.  Habeas corpus raises question only of
jurisdiction.  34 H. 484.



  Cases of illegal sentence:  3 H. 17; 6 H. 732; 7 H. 162; 38
H. 479.  Magistrate having no criminal jurisdiction over subject matter,
prisoner discharged on writ.  6 H. 25.  Release from commitment under void
order.  44 H. 271, 353 P.2d 631.



  In contempt cases the only question to be inquired into is
that of jurisdiction.  1 H. 95; 11 H. 594; 14 H. 245; 19 H. 88; 29 H. 323.



  Habeas corpus cannot be used as a substitute for appeal.  10
H. 610; 27 H. 237.  Nor to correct errors.  25 H. 414, 417.  Nor to relitigate
issues litigated to final appellate determination.  39 H. 167, aff'd 209 F.2d
75.



  Where court has jurisdiction of the subject matter of a
criminal complaint and the person of the defendant, habeas corpus does not lie
to review the sufficiency of the complaint.  27 H. 237.



  Appeal lies:  13 H. 534; 13 H. 575.  Supersedeas:  19 H. 346;
26 H. 701.



  Writ suspended when martial law declared in the 1895
rebellion.  10 H. 29.  Under proclamation of December 7, 1941, see note to §67
of Organic Act.



  Constitutional right to counsel does not apply to habeas
corpus proceedings.  51 H. 318, 459 P.2d 376.



  Defendant who alleges that defendant pleaded guilty because
of prior coerced confession is not, without more, entitled to hearing on
petition for habeas corpus.  53 H. 274, 492 P.2d 953.



  Without a special reason appellate court will not exercise
its original jurisdiction in habeas corpus proceedings when relief is available
in a lower court.  57 H. 411, 557 P.2d 787.