certiorari

[sur-shee-uh-rair-ahy, -rair-ee]

noun

Law.

1. a writ issuing from a superior court calling up the record of a proceeding in an inferior court for review.

certiorari

/ ˌsɜːtɪɔːˈrɛəraɪ /

noun

1. law an order of a superior court directing that a record of proceedings in a lower court be sent up for review See also mandamus prohibition

Word History and Origins

Origin of certiorari¹

First recorded in 1515–25; from Latin: “to be informed, certified,” literally, “made surer,” passive infinitive of certiōrāre “to inform,” verbal derivative of certior, comparative of certus “sure”; so called because the passive infinitive form occurred in the Latin original; certain

Word History and Origins

Origin of certiorari¹

C15: from legal Latin: to be informed

Example Sentences

With the Supreme Court granting certiorari to Donald Trump on his immunity claims regarding the January 6th trial in Washington, we have reached a historic moment.

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“This Court should grant certiorari to consider this question of paramount importance.”

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Known as a petition for certiorari before judgment, such a move to skip the circuit court is rare: The court has allowed it in few cases, though a disproportionate number have been in recent years.

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“The Court should grant certiorari and set a briefing schedule that would permit this case to be argued and resolved as promptly as possible.”

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Supreme Court to grant discretionary review, or “certiorari,” which it would likely do, Tribe explained.

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