Legal Term Definitions

Acquittal

Acquittal is a jury's verdict of not guilty or the court's ruling there is not enough evidence to convict a person.
 

Active Judge

Generally speaking, an active judge serves the court full-time.
 

Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO)

The Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO) is independent of the federal courts. Still, it is responsible for handling court statistics, adjusting the federal courts' budget, and performing many other administrative and programmatic activities under the Judicial Conference of the United States' direction and supervision.
 

Admissible

Admissible is a term used in civil and criminal cases to describe evidence a jury can consider.
 

Adversary Proceeding

Adversary proceedings are lawsuits that arise in a bankruptcy case and are referred to as “trials” which take place within the context of bankruptcy cases.
 

Affidavit

An affidavit is a written or printed statement affirming facts for or against the party making the statement.
 

Affirmed

Affirmed decisions mean that the court of appeals confirms the decision of a lower court and upholds the lower court's decision.
 

Alternate Juror

Selected in the same manner as a regular juror, an alternate juror hears all of the evidence but is not involved in the decision-making.
 

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

Alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is a method for resolving disputes outside the courtroom. Many ADR forms are nonbinding and call for the case to be referred to a neutral arbitrator or mediator.
 

Amicus Curiae

The Amicus curiae brief is a formal offering of advice to a court by a non-party entity interested in the matter.
 

Answer

A formal written statement by the defendant in a civil case providing the grounds of defense in response to the complaint.
 

Appeal

To appeal is to request a higher court after a trial to review a jury's decision on whether it was given properly. The party who appeals is the "appellant," the party being challenged is the "appellee."
 

Appellant

An appellant appeals a district court's decision, usually seeking to reverse it.
 

Appellate Court

On appeal, an appellate court can review the judgment of a lower court or tribunal.
 

Appellee

An appellee tries to convince the appeals court to affirm the district court's decision.
 

Arraignment

During an arraignment, the criminal defendant is brought to court, advised of the charges in the indictment, and asked to plead guilty or not guilty.
 

Article III Judge

Article III judges are federal judges appointed by the president under Article III of the Constitution and confirmed by the Senate. Appointments are for life contingent upon "good behavior."
 

Assets

Assets include any real or personal property, whether tangible or intangible.
 

Assume

To assume is to take over another person's rights or obligations.
 

Automatic Stay

Once a bankruptcy petition has been filed, the automatic stay suspends all lawsuits, foreclosures, garnishments, and other collection activities against the debtor.
 

Bail

Individuals accused of a crime may be released on bail before trial in exchange for a collateral promise they will appear in court.
 

Bankruptcy

Bankruptcy is a legal remedy that resolves debt issues for individuals or businesses under chapter 11 of the United States Code (the Bankruptcy Code).
 

Bankruptcy Administrator

In Alabama and North Carolina, bankruptcy administrators supervise the administration of bankruptcy cases including monitoring plans and disclosure statements, monitoring creditors' committees, monitoring fee applications, and fulfilling other statutory duties.
 

Bankruptcy Code

Chapter 11 of the United States Code (11 U.S.C. 101-1330) is informally known as the bankruptcy code or federal bankruptcy law.
 

Bankruptcy Court

Bankruptcy courts are units of the federal district courts that oversee bankruptcy cases.
 

Bankruptcy Estate

During bankruptcy proceedings, an estate encompasses all of the debtor's property at the time of filing.
 

Bankruptcy Judge

Federal bankruptcy judges are district court officials with decision-making authority over bankruptcy cases.
 

Bankruptcy Petition

The bankruptcy petition is a document requesting protection under federal bankruptcy laws.

Bankruptcy Trustee

Bankruptcy trustees are the individuals or corporations appointed to represent the interests of the bankruptcy estate and creditors in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 cases.

Bench Trial

Bench trials are trials without a jury, in which the judge adjudicates the facts.
 

Brief

A brief is a written statement that contains the legal and factual arguments of one side in a trial or on appeal.
 

Burden of Proof

The burden of proof determines which party is responsible for presenting evidence and the level of evidence required to defeat the other party's claim.
 

Business Bankruptcy

In a business bankruptcy case, the debtor is a business or a person managing a business, and the debts are for business purposes.
 

Capital Offense

In capital offenses, the crime is punishable by death.
 

Case File

A case file contains every document filed in court for that case.
 

Case Law

Case law is the law derived from past court decisions.
 

Caseload

Caseload is the volume of cases currently handled by a court or lawyer.
 

Cause of Action

A cause of action is a set of facts that gives a party the right to seek judicial action against another.
 

Chambers

A judge's chambers is his or her office.
 

Chapter 11

The Chapter 11 bankruptcy process allows corporations to reorganize and keep their businesses alive while paying creditors over time.
 

Chapter 12

Chapter 12 of the Bankruptcy Code allows for adjusting the debts of "family farmers" or "family fishermen."
 

Chapter 13

The Bankruptcy Code provides a "wage-earner" plan in Chapter 13 in which a debtor maintains his or her property and uses his or her disposable income to pay his or her debts over time. 
 

Chapter 13 Trustee

Chapter 13 trustees oversee Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases.
 

Chapter 15

Chapter 15 of the Bankruptcy Code is directed to cross-border insolvency.
 

Chapter 7

Chapter 7 provides for the liquidation of a debtor's nonexempt property and the distribution of its proceeds to creditors. The debtor must satisfy a means test to be eligible for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection.
 

Chapter 7 Trustee

Chapter 7 trustees represent the interests of the bankruptcy estate and creditors in a bankruptcy proceeding.
 

Chapter 9

Chapter 9 of the Bankruptcy Code deals with the reorganization of municipalities.
 

Chief Judge

Chief judges have the highest position of authority and are responsible for overseeing the administration of a court.
 

Claim

Claims are assertions of the creditor's right to recoup payment from the debtor.
 

Class Action

A class action is a suit in which one or more members of a class sue on behalf of the entire class.
 

Clerk of Court

Court clerks look after administrative functions, like managing the flow of cases, to keep a court running smoothly.
 

Collateral

An individual will pledge assets or property as collateral to guarantee a loan.
 

Common Law

The common law legal system derives law from judicial decisions.
 

Community Service

As part of the sentencing process, the court may order the defendant to perform unpaid community service for a civic or nonprofit organization.
 

Complaint

In a complaint, the plaintiff details their allegations against the defendant.
 

Concurrent Sentence

Concurrent sentences are prison terms that are served together instead of in a row.
 

Confirmation

Confirmation is the bankruptcy judge's approval of a reorganization plan.
 

Consecutive Sentence

Consecutive sentences are prison terms that are served in a row.
 

Consumer Bankruptcy

In consumer bankruptcy cases, the primary goal is to reduce or eliminate consumer debts.
 

Consumer Debts

Consumer debt is incurred for personal needs.
 

Contingent Claim

Contingent claims involve debts that may not arise absent specific circumstances.
 

Contract

A contract is an agreement between parties that imposes an obligation.
 

Conviction

A conviction is a judgment of guilt.
 

Counsel

Counsel can refer to both legal advice and attorneys.
 

Count

Counts are the individual allegations against a defendant in an indictment.
 

Court

Generally, a court is a government entity with the authority to decide disputes of law and administer justice in civil, criminal, and administrative matters.
 

Court Reporter

Court reporters record what is said verbatim in a courtroom and provide a transcript of that recording upon request.
 

Credit Counseling

Consumer credit counseling refers to individual or group briefing from a nonprofit budgeting and credit counseling agency (administered prior to filing for bankruptcy) and an instructional course on personal finance management (completed in the months before bankruptcy is discharged).
 

Creditor

The creditor claims to be owed money by the debtor.
 

Damages

Damages are financial compensation that a defendant pays a plaintiff when a plaintiff wins in a civil lawsuit.
 

De Facto

De facto is Latin for "in fact" and refers to something that is true in fact but not sanctioned by law.
 

De Jure

De jure is Latin for "in law" and refers to something that is sanctioned by law.
 

De Novo

De novo is Latin for "anew" and refers to a new trial.
 

Debtor

The Bankruptcy Code defines a debtor as a person who has filed a petition for relief.
 

Debtor's Plan

A debtor's plan describes how the debtor will pay creditors over a fixed time period.
 

Declaratory Judgment

A declaratory judgment is a judgment of the court that determines the rights of parties.
 

Default Judgment

A default judgment is a judgment in favor of the plaintiff when the defendant has failed to answer the complaint or appear in court.
 

Defendant

The defendant is the person or business who is being sued.
 

Deposition

Depositions are sworn out-of-court statements.
 

Discharge

A discharge is the release of the debtor from liability for certain debts.
 

Dischargeable Debt

Under the Bankruptcy Code, a dischargeable debt is one in which the debtor's personal liability can be eliminated.
 

Disclosure Statement

Chapter 11 disclosure statements are documents that provide information to creditors to allow them to assess reorganization plans.
 

Discovery

Discovery is the process of obtaining evidence before trial.
 

Dismissal With Prejudice

The dismissal with prejudice prevents an identical suit later.
 

Dismissal Without Prejudice

The dismissal without prejudice does not prevent an identical suit later.
 

Disposable Income

Disposable income is income that isn't essential to the debtor's maintenance and support.
 

Docket

A docket records the court proceedings in brief chronological entries, providing a record of each case's complete history.
 

Due Process

Due process protects a defendant's rights to a fair and impartial trial. 
 

En Banc

The term "en banc" literally means "on the bench" and is used when all judges of a court sit together to hear a case.
 

Equitable

Equity refers to a particular set of civil law remedies and associated procedures.
 

Equity

Equity is the value of the debtor's interest in a property after all liens have been satisfied and all other creditors' interests have been satisfied.
 

Evidence

Information presented as evidence (testimony or documents) convinces the factfinder (judge or jury) to side with one party or the other.
 

Ex Parte

Ex parte proceedings are initiated only by one party in a case.
 

Exclusionary Rule

Under the exclusionary rule, evidence obtained by violating a criminal defendant's constitutional rights or statutory rights cannot be entered as evidence in court.
 

Exculpatory Evidence

Generally, exculpatory evidence indicates that the accused did not commit the crime.
 

Executory Contracts

In executory contracts, the parties have obligations that still have to be performed.
 

Exempt Assets

An exempt asset is a property that a debtor is able to retain without creditor claims.
 

Exemptions, Exempt Property

Bankruptcy Code allows a debtor to keep exempt property from unsecured creditors.
 

Face Sheet Filing

A face sheet filing is a bankruptcy case filed with missing or incomplete schedules listing a few creditors and debts, often to delay eviction or foreclosure.
 

Family Farmer

Family farmers are individuals engaged in farming operations that meet certain limits on their debt and other statutory criteria to file a Chapter 12 petition.
 

Federal Public Defender

Federal public defenders are lawyers who work full-time for the federal courts and offer representation to defendants who cannot afford an attorney.
 

Federal Public Defender Organization

The Criminal Justice Act provides for the federal public defender organization to represent criminal defendants who cannot afford to hire a lawyer.
 

Federal Question Jurisdiction

Federal question jurisdiction is the jurisdiction granted to federal courts to interpret and apply the Constitution, acts of Congress, and treaties.
 

Felony

A felony is a serious offense punishable by imprisonment for more than a year or by death.
 

File

To file is to submit papers to the clerk of court to enter into the case record.
 

Fraudulent Transfer

A fraudulent transfer is the transfer of a debtor's property to defraud or for which the debtor receives less than its value.
 

Fresh Start

Fresh start describes a debtor's status after bankruptcy when they do not owe any more debts.
 

Grand Jury

The grand jury comprises 16-23 individuals who listen to criminal charges and decide whether there is probable cause that an individual committed a crime.
 

Habeas Corpus

Habeas corpus generally is an order forcing law enforcement authorities to produce the defendant and to justify his or her continued imprisonment.
 

Hearsay

Hearsay is evidence presented by a witness who did not personally witness the incident itself but heard about it.
 

Home Confinement

Generally, a person under home confinement must remain at home with few exceptions, which might include work or medical appointments.
 

Impeachment

Impeachment is the process of calling into question a witness's testimony. It is also a constitutional process to accuse officers of the federal government of misconduct.
 

In Camera

"In camera" is Latin for in a judge's chambers, and can also mean in private.
 

In Forma Pauperis

'In forma pauperis' means 'in the way of a pauper'. It refers to court permission granted to a person, who cannot pay court fees, to file a case.
 

Inculpatory Evidence

Generally, inculpatory evidence indicates that the accused did commit the crime.
 

Indictment

An indictment is a charge issued by a grand jury stating that enough evidence exists to prove that the defendant committed the crime to require a trial.
 

Information

An information is a formal accusation by the government that a defendant has committed a misdemeanor. 
 

Injunction

An injunction is a court order that prevents a party from committing some action.
 

Insider (of corporate debtor)

An insider of a corporate debtor is someone closely related to the debtor including a director, officer, or person in control of the debtor; a partnership in which the debtor is a general partner; a general partner of the debtor; or a relative of a general partner, director, officer, or person in control of the debtor.
 

Insider (of individual debtor)

An insider of an individual debtor is someone closely related to the debtor including any relative of the debtor or of a general partner of the debtor; partnership in which the debtor is a general partner; general partner of the debtor; or corporation of which the debtor is a director, officer, or person in control.
 

Interrogatories

Interrogatories consist of written questions that must be answered in writing and under oath as part of discovery.
 

Issue

Issues are the points of contention between parties in a lawsuit.
 

Joint Administration

Joint administration is a process under which a court permits two or more cases to be administered together.
 

Joint Petition

A joint petition is a bankruptcy petition filed together by spouses.
 

Judge

The role of a judge is to decide lawsuits brought before the courts.
 

Judgeship

The position of a judge is known as a judgeship.
 

Judgement

A judgement is a final decision issued by a court to resolve a legal dispute.
 

Judicial Conference of the United States

The Judicial Conference of the United States is a 27-judge body that makes policies for the federal court system.
 

Jurisdiction

A court's jurisdiction is the legal authority it has to decide a certain case.
 

Jurisprudence

Jurisprudence is the study of law.
 

Jury

The jury is the group of individuals chosen to hear the evidence in a trial and render a verdict on the matters presented.
 

Jury Instructions

During jury instructions, a judge directs the jury on what questions it must answer and which legal rules it must follow.
 

Lawsuit

A lawsuit is an action brought by a plaintiff against a defendant who has failed to perform a legal duty.
 

Lien

Lenders place liens on a property to secure debt payments.
 

Liquidated Claim

Liquidated claims are rights or demands to payment.
 

Liquidation

Liquidation is the process of selling a debtor's property and using the profits as part of the compensation to creditors.
 

Litigation

Litigation is the court system's procedure for resolving disputes.
 

Magistrate Judge

Usually, a magistrate judge will have limited rights, which can be determined either by a statute or by their appointment.
 

Means Test

A means test is used to determine whether the bankruptcy petition of an individual debtor is an abuse of the Bankruptcy Code.
 

Mental Health Treatment

Occasionally, a court will impose a Mental Health Condition, requiring that the individual receive evaluation and treatment for a mental disorder.
 

Misdemeanor

Misdemeanors are offenses punishable by imprisonment for one year or less.
 

Mistrial

Mistrials are invalid trials that must be restarted with new juries.
 

Moot

Something is moot when it doesn't need to be decided by a judge since the controversy has already been resolved.
 

Motion

Generally, a motion is a request for the judge to decide a particular issue related to the case.
 

Motion in Limine

The motion in limine is a request for the court to prohibit the other party from presenting or referring to evidence in matters deemed to be so prejudicial that the jury will be unduly affected.
 

Motion to Lift the Automatic Stay

In a motion to lift the automatic stay, a creditor is requesting the ability to take action against the debtor that would be otherwise prohibited by the automatic stay.
 

No-asset Case

No-asset cases are Chapter 7 cases in which there is no asset available to pay the creditors' unsecured claims.
 

Nolo Contendre

Nolo contendere stands for no contest and is a plea with the same effect as a plea of guilty, without an admission of guilt.
 

Nondischargeable Debt

In bankruptcy, a nondischargeable debt cannot be eliminated.
 

Nonexempt Assets

Non-exempt assets are assets held by a debtor that can be liquidated in order to satisfy their creditor's claims.
 

Objection to Dischargeability

In an objection to dischargeability, a trustee or creditor challenges a debtor's being released from personal liability for dischargeable debts.
 

Objection to Exemptions

An objection to exemptions is an objection made by the trustee or creditor to the debtor's claim of certain items as exempt from liquidation.
 

Opinion

An opinion is a written statement by a judge explaining the decision of the court.
 

Oral Argument

The oral argument is a chance for attorneys to give a summary of their position in front of the judges and to answer questions.
 

Panel

A panel can refer to either the group of judges assigned to a case, the potential jurors or the attorneys qualified to serve as court-appointed counsel.
 

Parole

Parole is the release of a federal prison inmate from prison after completing part of his or her sentence.
 

Party in Interest

A party in interest has the standing to be heard by the court in a bankruptcy case.
 

Per Curiam

A Per Curiam opinion is one written in the Court's name rather than the specific judge's.
 

Peremptory Challenge

A peremptory challenge is excluding a prospective juror without citing the cause.
 

Petit Jury (or trial jury)

A petit jury (of 12 for federal criminal cases and 6 for federal civil cases) determines the facts in dispute by hearing evidence presented by both sides at trial.
 

Petition

The petition initiates a bankruptcy case by setting forth basic details about the debtor's assets and liabilities.
 

Petition Preparer

A petition preparer prepares bankruptcy petitions but is not authorized to practice the law.
 

Petty Offense

The petty offense is a federal misdemeanor punishable by up to six months imprisonment.
 

Plaintiff

The plaintiff is the party that initiates the lawsuit in a civil action.
 

Plan

A debtor's plan describes how it proposes to pay creditors' claims over a fixed time.
 

Plea

A please is the defendant's answer of guilty or not guilty to the charges.
 

Pleadings

Pleadings are written statements that the parties file with the courts in which they state their legal positions or assertions on a case.
 

Postpetition Transfer

In a post-petition transfer, the property transfer occurs after the petition filing.
 

Prebankruptcy Planning

Prebankruptcy planning is the modification of a debtor's property to take advantage of the maximum amount of exemptions available to the debtor.
 

Precedent

Precedent is the prior court holding which forms the legal rule on an issue in the future.
 

Preferential Debt Payment

Preferential debt payments are made by a debtor in the 90 days before filing for bankruptcy.
 

Presentence Report

Before sentencing, a presentence report is filed containing background info about the offender.
 

Pretrial Conference

Pretrial Conferences are meetings of the judge and attorneys that plan the trial, review evidence and witnesses, and prepare a trial schedule.
 

Pretrial Services

A federal court's pretrial services help prepare a person for a trial.
 

Priority

If there is not enough money to pay all unsecured claims in full, priority is the ranking for which order claims get paid.
 

Priority Claim

Priority claims are unsecured claims to be paid before claims that are not entitled to priority status.
 

Pro Per

Pro Per is Latin for "on one's own behalf" and refers to representing oneself.
 

Pro tem

Pro tem is Latin for temporarily.
 

Probation

Probation is the release of a person from prison into the community supervised by a probation officer and ordered to obey certain conditions.
 

Probation Officer

A probation officer is a court officer who conducts investigations, prepares presentence reports, and supervises released defendants.
 

Procedure

The procedure is the set of rules for conducting a lawsuit.
 

Proof of Claim

The proof of claim is a written statement that describes why a debtor owes a creditor money and the amount owed.
 

Property of the Estate

The property of the estate is that which the debtor owns legally or equitable rights to at the time of the commencement of the lawsuit.
 

Prosecute

To prosecute means to charge someone with some sort of criminal offense.
 

Reaffirmation Agreement

A reaffirmation agreement is a contract between a debtor and trustee to repay a dischargeable debt to keep the property.
 

Record

The record is a written summary of all proceedings in a lawsuit.
 

Redemption

The redemption method of Chapter 7 bankruptcy entails paying a secured creditor the value of collateral to remove its lien on the collateral.
 

Remand

To remand something is to send it back.
 

Reverse

A reverse order sets aside a lower court decision, often with a remand to the lower court for further proceedings.
 

Sanction

A sanction is a punishment or other type of enforcement used to ensure compliance with laws.
 

Schedules

The schedules are the list of a debtor's assets, liabilities, and other financial information filed as part of the bankruptcy petition.
 

Secured Creditor

A secured creditor holds a claim against the debtor secured by collateral.
 

Secured Debt

A secured debt is backed by collateral that a creditor can recover if the debtor defaults.
 

Senior Judge

A senior judge is a judge who has been on the bench for the longest period of time or a federal or state judge who chooses senior status over retirement.
 

Sentence

A sentence is the punishment given to a criminal defendant after he or she is convicted.
 

Sentencing Guidelines

Judges use the Sentencing Guidelines to set a sentence for a convicted defendant.
 

Sequester

To sequester is to separate.
 

Service of Process

Service of process is the act of serving writs or summonses on a party.
 

Settlement

Settlements occur when parties resolve their dispute without a trial.
 

Small Business Case

Small business cases are chapter 11 cases that have no creditors' committee and the debtor is more closely monitored by the U.S. trustee than other chapter 11 debtors.
 

Standard of Proof

Generally, the standard of proof is the amount of certainty and degree of evidence required to prove a case in a criminal or civil action.
 

Statement of Financial Affairs

A statement of financial affairs is a form a debtor must file concerning his or her recent financial transactions.
 

Statement of Intention

In a chapter 7 bankruptcy case, a statement of intention is a declaration by a debtor that outlines what property the debtor intends to surrender and retain.
 

Statute

Statutes are laws enacted by a legislative body.
 

Statute of Limitations

The statute of limitations is a law that specifies the time after which rights cannot be enforced by legal action or offenses cannot be punished.
 

Sua sponte

Sua sponte is Latin for "of its own will" and means a court will act on its own initiative in a case without being asked by either party.
 

Subordination

Subordination is the process whereby a creditor lowers its priority to collect a debt.
 

Subpoena

A subpoena is an order requiring a witness to appear before the court and testify.
 

Subpoena Duces Tecum

A subpoena duces tecum is Latin for "you shall bring with you," and it requires the witness to produce a document pertaining to a proceeding.
 

Temporary Restraining Order

A temporary restraining order is a temporary court order forbidding certain actions pending a full hearing.
 

Testimony

Testimony is evidence presented orally in court or before a grand jury.
 

Toll

To toll the Statute of Limitations means to postpone the time it specifies from running.
 

Tort

In civil law, a tort would be regarded as a wrong for which courts impose liability.
 

Transcript

Transcripts contain written records of what was said during a legal proceeding or an official conversation.
 

Transfer

A transfer is any means a debtor can use to dispose of his/her property.
 

Trustee

Trustees are representatives of the bankruptcy estate who exercise statutory powers on behalf of unsecured creditors under the direction of the U.S. trustee or bankruptcy administrator.
 

Typing Service

A typing service is a firm that prepares bankruptcy petitions, although they are not licensed to practice law.
 

U.S. Attorney

The Attorney General appoints U.S. attorneys to enforce federal laws and represent the government in civil and criminal cases.
 

U.S. Trustee

U.S. trustees are officers appointed, supervised, and managed by the Department of Justice who have administrative responsibilities in bankruptcy proceedings.
 

Undersecured Claim

Unsderecured claims refer to claims secured by property of less value than the amount of the debt.
 

Undue Hardship

Undue hardship is a specific occurrence that temporarily or permanently exempts a person from following a legal obligation to avoid an unreasonable burden.
 

Unlawful Detainer Action

An unlawful detainer action is a lawsuit filed to evict a tenant from a property.
 

Unliquidated Claim

An unliquidated claim is one for which the amount is in dispute has not been determined.
 

Unscheduled Debt

An unscheduled debt should have been filed in the schedules filed with the court but was not.
 

Unsecured Claim

Unsecured claims refer to debts that are not secured by collateral and do not receive priority for payment.
 

Uphold

A higher court upholds a lower court decision when it allows it to stand.
 

Venue

Venue is the geographic area within which a court has jurisdiction to decide cases. 
 

Verdict

A verdict is the determination of guilt or innocence in a criminal case or the conclusion in a civil case.
 

Voir Dire

Jurors are selected by voir dire, a process of questioning prospective jurors to determine their suitability.
 

Voluntary Transfer

Voluntary transfers are property transfers by the debtor with his consent.
 

Wage Garnishment

A wage garnishment is a nonbankruptcy legal proceeding whereby a creditor seeks to enforce a claim against the future wages of a debtor.
 

Warrant

Usually, a warrant is a court order permitting law enforcement officers to perform a search or make arrests.
 

Witness

In a lawsuit, witnesses are called upon to testify before the court or jury.
 

Writ

The writ is a written court order requiring someone to do, or not do, some act.
 

Writ of Certiorari

The writ of certiorari directs the lower court to deliver its record to the higher court for review upon appeal.
 
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