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

In a 2024 case in which the Court denied certiorari, Justice Thomas wrote regarding the denial that “In an appropriate future case, we should grant certiorari to address this important question.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

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.

Read more on Salon

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

Read more on Salon

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.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

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

Read more on Seattle Times