Legal Definitions - successive-writ doctrine

The successive-writ doctrine is a principle in criminal procedure that states that a second or supplemental petition for a writ of habeas corpus cannot raise claims that were already heard and decided on the merits in a previous petition.

For example, if a person files a writ of habeas corpus claiming that their imprisonment is unlawful because of a violation of their constitutional rights, and the court denies the petition after considering the merits of the claim, the person cannot file another writ of habeas corpus raising the same claim again. This is because the successive-writ doctrine prohibits raising claims that have already been decided on the merits in a previous petition.

The purpose of the successive-writ doctrine is to prevent abuse of the writ of habeas corpus, which is a legal remedy that allows individuals to challenge their detention or imprisonment. By limiting the number of times a person can file a writ of habeas corpus on the same claim, the successive-writ doctrine ensures that the writ is used appropriately and not as a means of harassment or delay.