1. A writ issued by a higher court to review the decision of a lower court.
Usage: Legal term; Often used in the phrase 'writ of certiorari'

Examples

• The defendant filed a petition for certiorari to appeal the lower court's ruling.
• The Supreme Court granted certiorari in the high-profile case.
• A writ of certiorari allows a higher court to examine the proceedings of a lower court.
• The lawyer argued that certiorari was necessary to correct the trial court's error.
• The court denied the petition for certiorari, leaving the lower court's decision intact.
• Certiorari is one of the most important tools for appellate review in the U.S. legal system.