The right of habeas corpus is the constitutionally bestowed right of a
person to present
evidence before a court that he or she has been wrongly imprisoned.
The law just can't keep you locked up, execute you, or decide your
fate without a determination of whether you've committed a crime or not.
Section 9 of the US constitution states - The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.
Since September 11th, Habeas Corpus has been suspended and the
government has the right to execute enemy combatants without trial. They've also passed law that they can execute American citizens without trial as well if they are considered a threat.
President
Bush and
Lincoln are the only two presidents to suspend Habeas Corpus and it is still currently suspended under the Obama administration (2010) giving the federal government full rights to assassinate whom ever they deem necessary without accusation or trial.