Writ

A writ is a formal written order issued by a court or other legal authority, directing a person or institution to act or refrain from acting.

Writ of Mandamus: A court order compelling a public official or lower court to perform a legally required duty. It exemplifies a writ that commands action rather than merely resolving a dispute.
Court Order: A directive issued by a court that requires or prohibits specified conduct. A writ is a formal kind of court order, though not every court order is called a writ.
Royal Prerogative: The residual powers historically exercised by a monarch, including certain powers of justice and government. Early English writs carried the king's authority into disputes and administration.
Habeas Corpus: A legal procedure requiring authorities to justify a person's detention before a court. This writ challenges unlawful custody by requiring the detaining authority to produce the detained person.
Subpoena: A legal command requiring a person to testify or produce evidence in a proceeding. A subpoena compels participation or disclosure, while writs cover a wider range of judicial commands.
Writ of Prohibition: A higher court order directing a lower court or tribunal to stop acting beyond its jurisdiction. It shows how a writ can prevent an authority from taking a prohibited step.
Judicial Review: The power of a court to examine the legality of actions by government bodies or lower courts. Several writs provide procedures for reviewing official or judicial action.
Common Law: A legal system in which precedent and judicial decisions are major sources of law. Writs shaped the procedures through which English common law developed.
Certiorari: A higher court's order to review a lower court's record and decide whether to hear an appeal. It is a principal writ through which appellate courts select cases for review.
Summons: A formal notice requiring a defendant to appear or respond in a legal proceeding. A summons initiates or advances a case rather than usually directing substantive conduct.

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