Writ of Certiorari: (Latin, "informed") An order issued to a lower court to produce the official records for a case the Court intends to review.
Writ of Habeas Corpus: (Latin, "produce the body") An order forcing a detention facility to bring the accused before the court to determine whether the detention is legal and justified.
Writ of Mandamus: (Latin, "we command") An order compelling a public official, corporate officer, or agency to take a specified action within their scope of responsibility.
Writ of Prohibition: An order prohibiting specified actions or preventing exercise of an entity's legal powers.
The US Supreme Court is an Article III (constitutional) court, and the highest appellate court for federal question jurisdiction, or cases involving issues related to the US Constitution, federal...
The US Supreme Court is both court of original and appellate jurisdiction. Court of original jurisdiction is when a case is first heard (consideration of facts and testimonies before a jury and/or a...
The Rule of Four means four of the nine justices must agree to hear a case in order for it to be accepted on appeal. If four or more justices think the case is worth the Court's time, then the...
The Federal Court System has 94 US District (trial) courts, 13 US Court of Appeals Circuit Courts (intermediate appellate courts), and several limited jurisdiction court, that cover special subject...
State supreme courts cannot lawfully overturn US Supreme Court decisions, per the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the Constitution. The only ways a decision may be overturned is by the Supreme...