Todays Word

 certiorari /sûr″shē-ə-râr′ē, -rä′rē/

noun

1. A writ seeking review of a lower court decision by a higher court.
2. A writ issuing out of chancery, or a superior court, to call up the records of a inferior court, or remove a cause there depending, in order that the party may have more sure and speedy justice, or that errors and irregularities may be corrected. It is obtained upon complaint of a party that he has not received justice, or can not have an impartial trial in the inferior court.
3. A grant of the right of an appeal to be heard by an appellate court where that court has discretion to choose which appeals it will hear.
4. A grant of review of a government action by a court with discretion to make such a review.
5. A common law writ issued by a superior court to one of inferior jurisdiction demanding the record of a particular case.