writ of certiorari
- noun
- /rɪt əv ˌsɜrʃɪˈɑːri/
- Formal
- Conversely, the Supreme Court's denial of a petition for a writ of certiorari is sometimes misunderstood to mean that the Supreme Court approves the decision of the lower court.
- petition for a writ of certiorari
Examples
-
Amgen then filed a petition to the Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari.
Blog text (24) -
In January 1991, the Court granted the writ of certiorari.
Academic text (1992) -
The United States Supreme Court denied a petition for a writ of certiorari on December 12, 2016.
Academic text (2017) -
On October 10, the City and County of San Diego petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court with a writ of certiorari.
Academic text (2006) -
On June 5, 1990, the Wisconsin Public Intervenor petitioned the United States Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari.
Academic text (1992) -
On 29 May 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court denied the defendants' petition for a writ of certiorari, meaning it refused to accept the case for review.
Academic text (2001) -
On 8 January 2001, the defendants filed their petition for a writ of certiorari, asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case on its merits.
Academic text (2001) -
Although the en banc Fourth Circuit came to the correct decision, my hope is that Robinson will petition for a writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court.
Academic text (2017) -
As discussed here, on June 11, 2012, the Court granted the petition of Amgen for a writ of certiorari in a securities lawsuit pending against the company.
Blog text (24) -
The party that desires to appeal must request a writ of certiorari.
Synonyms
An official instruction from a court telling someone to do or stop doing something
A formal written court order telling someone to do or not do something
An order from a higher court telling a lower court to send the case file for review
A document from a court that orders someone to do or stop something
An official order from a higher court asking a lower court to send trial papers to be checked for mistakes
Surface Forms
Morphology
writ + of + certiorari
The phrase is compositionally built: 'writ' (a legal document) + 'of' (genitive link) + 'certiorari' (a legal order for record review) yields a document ordering review. Although the terms are technical and of low frequency, a learner who knows the constituents can transparently derive the overall meaning as a writ that commands review of a case record.
Etymology
Writ of certiorari The legal term writ of certiorari comes from old Latin and old court practice: a writ is a written order and certiorari comes from a Latin word meaning 'to be made certain'. So it paints the picture of a higher court asking a lower court to send the case papers so the higher court can check them, and today it means an order to 'review' a lower court's decision.