A writ is an order issued by a legal authority with administrative or judicial powers, typically a court. In the United States, the All Writs Act authorizes the Supreme Court and all federal courts to issue “all writs necessary or appropriate in aid of their respective jurisdictions and agreeable to the usages and principles of law.” It also generally allows a justice or judge of a court that has jurisdiction to issue a writ. In FTC v. Dean Foods Co., 384 U.S. 597 (1966), the Supreme Court ruled that the Act extends to the potential jurisdiction of an appellate court where an appeal is not then pending but may later be perfected.
Writs come in various forms and serve different purposes. For example, the Supreme Court uses the writ of certiorari to review cases from federal courts or state courts. A writ of mandate is generally issued to a subordinate court or an organization to require performance of certain duties or acts. For more information, see:
- writ of certiorari
- writ of error
- writ of habeas corpus
- writ of mandamus
- writ of coram nobis
- writ of execution
- writ of garnishment
- writ of prohibition
[Last updated in July of 2024 by the Wex Definitions Team]