Let’s talk about writs. Practically speaking, a writ of habeas corpus allows an attorney to attempt to overturn a conviction (or a defendant in pro se cases, since attorneys are usually not provided to indigent defendants for writs) by bringing evidence before the court that is not already in the record. New evidence can be presented in multiple ways, from affidavits and depositions, to having full-fledged hearings before the judge that look a little like a trial. It’s a bit of a hail mary… but endlessly worth it if they succeed.
