What is the legal term for an order issued by the Supreme Court requiring a lower court to send records of a case for review?

The legal term for an order issued by the Supreme Court requiring a lower court to send records of a case for review is known as a writ of certiorari. This writ serves a vital role in the judicial process by allowing the Supreme Court to exercise its discretion in selecting cases that hold significant legal implications or that address important questions of law.

The purpose of certiorari is to ensure that the Supreme Court can review decisions made by lower courts to maintain consistency in the application of law across different jurisdictions. When the Supreme Court grants a writ of certiorari, it indicates that the case will be examined for potential errors in the lower court's ruling or to resolve differing interpretations of the law.

In contrast, a writ of mandamus is a court order directing a public official or government entity to perform a duty that they are obligated to complete, a writ of certification pertains to a process where lower courts ask the Supreme Court for clarification on specific legal questions, and a writ of prohibition is used to stop a lower court from proceeding in a case. Understanding these distinctions highlights the unique function of the writ of certiorari in the legal system.