A Maori sovereignty claimant who challenged his jail sentence repeatedly demanded the presiding High Court judge produce his warrant.
Perry Wakenuiroa Morehu, 23, applied to the High Court at Whangarei in March for a writ of habeas corpus and a copy was served on the chief executive of Corrections and Crown Law.
Habeas corpus is a written command requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court, especially to secure the person's release unless lawful grounds are shown for their detention.
Morehu is serving a sentence of three years and nine months at Ngawha Prison for a number of offences including burglary, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and driving in a dangerous manner.
He was sentenced by the Auckland District Court in October 2015.