A petition for a writ of habeas corpus shall be under oath and shall state:
Section 23-22.—The Petition
Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceA Connecticut habeas corpus petition must be sworn under oath and must lay out the specific facts and relief sought, disclose any prior petitions on the same confinement, and state whether the grounds were raised before.
Full Text of Section 23-22
(1) the specific facts upon which each specific claim of illegal confinement is based and the relief requested;
(2) any previous petitions for the writ of habeas corpus challenging the same confinement and the dispositions taken thereon; and
(3) whether the legal grounds upon which the petition is based were previously asserted at the criminal trial, on direct appeal or in any previous petition.
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 529A.) (Amended June 25, 2001, to take effect Jan. 1, 2002.)
Plain-English Summary
Section 23-22 spells out what a petition for a writ of habeas corpus must contain. The petition must be under oath, and it must state the specific facts behind each claim of illegal confinement along with the relief the petitioner wants.
The petition must also disclose any previous petitions for a writ of habeas corpus challenging the same confinement, including how those earlier petitions were resolved. Finally, it must state whether the legal grounds raised in the petition were already asserted at the criminal trial, on direct appeal, or in an earlier petition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Connecticut habeas corpus petition need to be sworn?
Yes. Section 23-22 requires the petition to be under oath.
Do I have to disclose earlier habeas petitions I filed?
Yes. The petition must state any previous petitions challenging the same confinement and what happened to them.
What facts does the petition need to include?
The specific facts underlying each claim of illegal confinement, along with the specific relief the petitioner is requesting.
Do I need to say whether I raised these arguments before?
Yes. The petition must state whether the legal grounds it relies on were already raised at the criminal trial, on direct appeal, or in a prior petition.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 23-22). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
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