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certiorari

cer·ti·o·rar·i [ sùrshee ə rérree, sùrshee ə rree ] (plural cer·ti·o·rar·is)


noun 
Definition:
 
writ from higher to lower court: a writ issued by a higher court to obtain records on a case from a lower court so that the case can be reviewed.
See also  mandamusprohibition (sense 3)


[15th century. < late Latin, "be informed," passive of Latin certiorare "inform" < certus (see certain); because the word occurs in the writ]
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