Law

• warrant

  A writ from a court commanding police to perform specified acts.

• court order

  A writ issued by a court of law requiring a person to do something or to refrain from...

• process

  A writ issued by authority of law; usually compels the defendant's attendance in a civil...

• assize

  An ancient writ issued by a court of assize to the sheriff for the recovery of property.

• certiorari

  A common law writ issued by a superior court to one of inferior jurisdiction demanding...

• 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

  An extraordinary writ commanding an official to perform a ministerial act that the law...

• attachment

  A writ authorizing the seizure of property that may be needed for the payment of a judgment...

• 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...

• 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...

• writ of prohibition

  A judicial writ from a higher court ordering a lower court not to exercise jurisdiction...

• writ of right

  A writ ordering that land be restored to its rightful owner.

• subpoena

  A writ issued by court authority to compel the attendance of a witness at a judicial proceeding;...

• subpoena duces tecum

  A writ issued by a court at the request of one of the parties to a suit; it...