Writ

Introduction to Writ

Writ, in law, documentary court orders issued to authorize actions in specific legal situations. Writs variously prescribe or forbid certain acts, enforce rights, or redress wrongs. A writ of habeas corpus, for example, safeguards individuals from being unlawfully taken into custody, and a writ of error from a superior court orders an inferior court to provide records of legal proceedings in order to ascertain whether the law has been erroneously applied. The term writ was formerly applied in Anglo-Saxon England to any written, sealed pronouncements by the king.” (1)

Resources

Notes and References

• Information about Writ in the Encarta Online Encyclopedia

Guide to Writ