Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun Law.
- a writ issuing from a superior court calling up the record of a proceeding in an inferior court for review.
noun
- law an order of a superior court directing that a record of proceedings in a lower court be sent up for reviewSee also mandamus, prohibition
legal Latin, “to be certified, to be informed or shown,” from a word figuring in the opening phrase of such writs from superior to inferior courts seeking the records of a case. Passive present infinitive of certorare “to certify, inform,” from certior, comp. of certus “sure” (see certain).