ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

judicial writ - (law) a legal document issued by a court or judicial officer

legal document, legal instrument, official document, instrument - (law) a document that states some contractual relationship or grants some right

court order - a writ issued by a court of law requiring a person to do something or to refrain from doing something

warrant - a writ from a court commanding police to perform specified acts

assize - an ancient writ issued by a court of assize to the sheriff for the recovery of property

certiorari, writ of certiorari - a common law writ issued by a superior court to one of inferior jurisdiction demanding the record of a particular case

habeas corpus, writ of habeas corpus - a writ ordering a prisoner to be brought before a judge

venire facias - a judicial writ ordering a sheriff to summon people for jury duty

mandamus, writ of mandamus - an extraordinary writ commanding an official to perform a ministerial act that the law recognizes as an absolute duty and not a matter for the official's discretion; used only when all other judicial remedies fail

attachment - a writ authorizing the seizure of property that may be needed for the payment of a judgment in a judicial proceeding

fieri facias - a writ ordering a levy on the belongings of a debtor to satisfy the debt

scire facias - a judicial writ based on some record and requiring the party against whom it is brought to show cause why the record should not be enforced or annulled

sequestration - a writ that authorizes the seizure of property

writ of detinue - a writ ordering the release of goods that have been unlawfully detained

writ of election - a writ ordering the holding of an election

writ of error - a judicial writ from an appellate court ordering the court of record to produce the records of trial

writ of prohibition - a judicial writ from a higher court ordering a lower court not to exercise jurisdiction in a particular case

writ of right - a writ ordering that land be restored to its rightful owner

process, summons - a writ issued by authority of law; usually compels the defendant's attendance in a civil suit; failure to appear results in a default judgment against the defendant

subpoena, subpoena ad testificandum - a writ issued by court authority to compel the attendance of a witness at a judicial proceeding; disobedience may be punishable as a contempt of court

subpoena duces tecum - a writ issued by a court at the request of one of the parties to a suit; it requires a witness to bring to court or to a deposition any relevant documents under the witness's control

law, jurisprudence - the collection of rules imposed by authority; "civilization presupposes respect for the law"; "the great problem for jurisprudence to allow freedom while enforcing order"