Habeas Corpus Act of 1863

The Habeas Corpus Suspension Act of March 3, 1863, authorized President Abraham Lincoln's suspension of the writ of habeas corpus during the Civil War. Lincoln's suspension of the writ permitted the military to arrest and imprison without trial anyone threatening public safety. Congress protected federal officials from being sued for arresting citizens and for enforcing conscription and emancipation policies during the war. Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus at least seven times beginning in 1861. His suspension was criticized as an unconstitutional ...