A discretionary writ by which a higher court agrees to review a lower court's decision. Most famously used by the U.S. Supreme Court to select which cases it will hear from among thousands of petitions.
From Latin 'certiorari,' meaning 'to be made more certain' or 'to be informed.' The full phrase was 'certiorari volumus' (we wish to be informed), expressing the higher court's desire to examine the lower court's proceedings.
Try Another Word