OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Canada says a federal prisoner can challenge a refusal to reclassify them to a lower-security facility through the time-honoured writ of habeas corpus — a hearing before a judge to determine if a detention is lawful.

In a 6-3 ruling Friday, the top court said continuing a more restrictive form of confinement, instead of placing an inmate in a lower security facility, results in a deprivation of their remaining freedom.

The court said broad and effective access to habeas corpus is critical for those who suffer unlawful and continued deprivation of their liberty and seek to challenge the legality of their confinement.

The decision came in the jointly heard cases of two men who argued they were unfairly denied access to habeas corpus when contesting classifica

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