A writ permitting or directing someone to take some action. Frequently, the term refers to a writ from a judge, permitting law enforcement personnel to take some action, such as make an arrest, search a location, or seize some piece of property. See...
courts
with prejudice
When a court dismisses an action, they can either do so “with prejudice” or “without prejudice.” Dismissal with prejudice means that the plaintiff cannot refile the same claim again in that court.
The reason that dismissal...
witness
In legal proceedings, witnesses can serve as sources of evidence, offering firsthand accounts that can corroborate or refute claims made by parties involved. Their testimony can influence the outcome of a case by providing insights that might...
witness stand
The witness stand is the location in a courtroom where a witness sits or stands while giving testimony. This is usually a platform to the left and slightly below the judge's seat. A witness called to testify is said to "take the stand."...
witness tampering
The act of obstructing justice by improperly interacting with a witness before or after trial. Examples include influencing, threatening, harassing, or physically harming the witness.
writ
A writ is an order issued by a legal authority with administrative or judicial powers, typically a court.
See: writ of certiorari, writ of error, writ of habeas corpus, writ of mandamus
writ of attachment
Writ of attachment refers to court approved seizures of defendant property early in a case to ensure the plaintiff can receive adequate damages. In order to receive a writ of attachment, a plaintiff must meet certain requirements, and the...
writ of certiorari
See: certiorari
A type of writ, meant for rare use, by which an appellate court decides to review a case at its discretion. The word certiorari comes from Law Latin and means "to be more fully informed." A writ of certiorari orders a lower...
writ of coram nobis
The writ of coram nobis is a Latin term applied in common law to call to the court’s attention facts that would have changed the judgment but were outside the record and unknown to the court at the time of judgment. The writ of coram nobis is...
writ of error
A writ emanating from an appellate court, demanding that a lower court convey the record of a case to the appellate court so that the record may be reviewed for alleged errors of law committed during a juridical proceeding. See, e.g. Worcester v....