Legal Terms Flashcards
1
Q
Acquittal
A
the verdict in a criminal trial in which the defendant is found not guilty
2
Q
Act
A
an alternative name for statutory law. When introduced in a legislature, a piece of proposed legislation is typically described as a “bill.” After a bill is enacted, the terms “law” and “act” may be used interchangeably to describe it. An act has the same legislative force as a joint resolution but is technically distinguishable, being of a different for and introduced with the words “Be it enacted” instead of “Be it resolved.”
3
Q
Action
A
the formal legal demand of one’s rights from another person brought in court
4
Q
Adjudication
A
the formal pronouncing or recording of a judgment or decree by a court
5
Q
Administrative agency
A
a governmental authority, other than a legislature or court, which issues rules and regulations or adjudicates disputes arising under designated statutes and regulations. They usually act under authority delegated by the legislature.
6
Q
Administrative law
A
law that governs, and is promulgated by, governmental administrative agencies other than courts or legislative bodies. These administrative agencies derive their power from legislative enactments and are subject to judicial review
7
Q
Advance sheets
A
current pamphlets containing the most recently reported opinions of a court or the courts of several jurisdictions. The volume and page numbers usually are the same as in subsequently bound volumes of the series, which cover several of the previously issued advance sheets.
8
Q
Advisory opinion
A
an opinion rendered by a court at the request of the government or an interested party that indicates how the court would rule on a matter should adversary litigation develop. This opinion is thus an interpretation of the law without binding effect. The International Court of Justice and some state courts will render these opinion; the Supreme Court of the United States will not.
9
Q
Affidavit
A
a written statement or declaration of facts sworn to by the maker taken before a person officially permitted by law to administer oaths
10
Q
Alternative dispute resolution
A
the process of resolving disputes through such means as mediation or arbitration rather than through litigation
11
Q
Amicus Curiae
A
literally, “friend of the court.” A person or entity with strong interest in or views on the subject matter of a dispute involving other parties that petitions the court for permission to file a brief in the case, ostensibly on behalf of one of the parties, but actually to suggest a rationale consistent with its own views.
12
Q
Annotations
A
- Statutory: brief summaries of the law and facts of cases interpreting statutes by Congress or state legislatures that are compiles in codes
- Textual: expository essays of varying length on significant legal topics chosen from selected cases or statutes, which are often published together with the essays.
13
Q
Answer
A
the pleading filed by the defendant in response to the plaintiff’s complaint
14
Q
Appeal papers
A
the record of lower court proceedings and briefs filed by attorneys with courts for the purpose of appealing a lower court’s actions in a litigated matter
15
Q
Appellant
A
the party who requests that a higher court review the actions of a lower court
16
Q
Appellate court
A
a court that has legal authority to review the actions and decisions of a lower court or an administrative agency on appeal
17
Q
Appellee
A
the party against whom a n appeal is taken (usually, but not always, the winner in the lower court). It should be noted that a party’s status as appellant or appellee bears no relation to his, her or its status as plaintiff or defendant in the lower court
18
Q
Arbitration
A
the hearing and settlement of a dispute between opposing parties by one or more neutral and non-judicial third parties. The third parties’ decision is often binding by prior agreement of the opposing parties. It is an alternative to litigation as a means of resolving disputes.
19
Q
Attorney General Opinion
A
an opinion issued by the chief counsel of the federal government or a state government at the request of the president, a state governor or other governmental official on behalf of a state or federal agency interpreting the law for the requesting official or agency int he same manner as a private attorney would for his or her client. The opinion is not binding on a court but is usually accorded some degree of persuasive authority.
20
Q
Authority
A
that which can bind or influence a court. Case law, legislation, constitutions, administrative regulations, and writings about the law are all legal ______.
21
Q
Bill
A
a legislative proposal introduced in a legislature. The term distinguishes unfinished legislation from enacted law.
22
Q
Black letter law
A
an informal term indicating the basic principles of law generally accepted by the courts and/or embodied in the statutes of a particular jurisdiction
23
Q
Brief
A
- in American law practice, a written statement prepared by the counsel arguing a case in court. It contains a summary of the facts of the case, the pertinent laws, and an argument of how the law applies to the facts supporting counsel’s position
- a summary of published legal opinion prepared for the purpose of studying the opinion in law school
24
Q
Calendar
A
a list or schedule that states the order in which cases are to heard during a term of court
25
Case in point
a judicial opinion which deals with a fact situation similar to the one being researched and substantiates a point of law to be asserted. It is also referred to as "case on all fours."
26
Case law
the law of reported judicial opinions as distinguished from statutes or administrative law
27
Casebook
a textbook used to instruct law students in a particular area of law. The text consists of a collection of judicial opinions, usually from appellate courts, and notes by the author(s)
28
Cause of action
a claim in law and in fact sufficient to bring a case to court; the grounds of action (example: breach of contract)
29
Certioriari
a writ issued by a higher court to a lower court requiring the latter to produce the records of a particular case tried therein. It is most commonly used to refer to the Supreme Court of US, which uses this writ as a discretionary device to choose the cases it wishes to hear. The term's origin is Latin, meaning "to be informed of."
30
Charter
a document issued by a governmental entity that gives a corporation legal existence. A corporation's _____ may be referred to as the "articles of incorporation" or the "certificate of incorporation," depending on the terminology used in the state where the corporation was incorporated
31
Civil Law
1. Roman law embodied in the Code of Justinian, which is the basis of law in most Latin American countries and most countries of Western Europe other than Great Britain and is the foundation of the law of Louisiana and Quebec
2. the law concerning noncriminal matters in both common law and civil law jurisdictions, such as those described in (1)
32
Claim
1. the assertion of a right, as to money or property
| 2. the accumulation of facts that give rise to a right enforceable in court
33
Class action
a lawsuit brought by a representative party on behalf of a group, all of whose members have the same or a similar grievance against the defendant
34
Code
in popular usage, a compilation of statutory laws. In a ____, the current statutory laws, together with judicial decrees having the force of law, are rewritten and arranged in classified order by subject. Repealed and temporary acts are eliminated and the revision is reenacted.
35
Codification
the process of collecting and arranging systematically, usually by subject, the laws of a state or country
36
Collective intelligence
the theory that higher levels of intelligence and understanding result from the collaborative and competitive efforts of interconnected groups of people
37
Common Law
the basis of Anglo-American legal systems. English common law was largely customary law and unwritten until discovered, applied and reported by the courts of law. In theory, the common law courts did not create law but rather discovered it in the customs and habits of the English people. The strength of the judicial system in pre-parliamentary days is one reason for the continued emphasis in common law systems on case law. In a narrow sense, common law is the phrase still used to distinguish case law from statutory law.
38
Compiled Statutes
in popular usage, a code. Technically, it is a compilation of acts printed verbatim as originally enacted but in a new classified order. The text is not modified; however, repealed and temporary acts are omitted.
39
Complaint
the plaintiff's initial pleading. Under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, it is no longer full of technicalities demanded by the common law. A complaint need only contain a short and plain statement of the claim upon which relief is sought, an indication of the type of relief requested, and an indication that the court has jurisdiction to hear the case
40
Consolidated statutes
a compilation of statutes arranged in classified order by subject and subdivided as necessary into parts, articles, chapters, and sections for clarity and consistency of style. In the process of preparing consolidated statues, all temporary and repealed statutes are deleted. A collection of statues is sometimes referred to in popular usage as "consolidated laws," "compiled statutes," "revised statutes," or a "code."
41
Consolidating statute
a law that gathers various statutes on certain topic and organizes them into a single statutory act, making minor textual revisions and eliminating repealed and temporary acts in the process.
42
Constitution
the system of fundamental principles by which a political body or organization governs itself.
43
Count
a separate and independent claim. A civil petition or a criminal indictment may contain several counts.
44
Counterclaim
a claim made by a defendant against a plaintiff in a civil lawsuit; it constitutes a separate cause of action
45
Court Decision
the disposition of a case by a court
46
Court rules
rules of procedure promulgated to govern civil and criminal practice before courts
47
Damages
monetary compensation awarded by a court for an injury caused by the act of another. They may be actual or compensatory (equal to the amount of loss shown), exemplary or punitive (in excess of the actual loss given to punish the person for the malicious conduct that caused the injury), or nominal (a trivial amount given because the injury is slight or because the actual amount of injury has not been determined satisfactorily).
48
Decree
a determination by a court of the rights and duties of the parties before it. Formerly, _____ were issued by courts of equity and distinguished from judgments, which were issued by courts of law
49
Defendant
the person against whom a civil or criminal action is brought
50
Demurrer
a means of objecting to the sufficiency in law of a pleading by admitting the actual allegations made, but disputing that they frame an adequate legal claim. A _____ is more commonly referred to in most jurisdictions today as a "motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim."
51
Digest
an index to reported cases, providing brief, unconnected statements of court holdings on points of law, which are arranged by subject and subdivided by jurisdiction and courts
52
Docket number
a identifying number, sequentially assigned by the court clerk at the onset of a lawsuit submitted to the court for adjudication
53
En Banc
a session in which the entire bench of the court will participate in the decision rather than the regular quorum. It is common for appellate court to have more members than are necessary to hear an appeal. In the US, the federal circuit courts of appeals usually sit in groups of three judges but for important cases may expand the bench to nine members, when they are said to be sitting _____.
54
Equity
justice administered according to fairness as contrasted with the strictly formulated rules of common law. It is based on a system of rules and principles that originated in England as an alternative to the harsh rules of common law and that were based on what was fair in a particular situation. One sought relief under this system in courts of _____ rather than in courts of law.
55
Executive agreement
an international agreement, not a treaty, concluded by the president without senatorial consent on the president's authority as commander-in-chief and director of foreign relations. The distinction between treaty and ______ is complicated and believed by some to be of questionable constitutionality, but the import of such agreements as that of Yalta, Potsdam, NAFTA, (and more) and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), among many others, is unquestionably great.
56
Executive Order
an order issued by the president under specific authority granted to the president by Congress. There is not precise distinction between an presidential proclamation and an _________; however, a proclamation generally cover matters of widespread interest, and _______often relates to the conduct of government business or to organization of the executive branch of government. Every act of the president authorizing or directing the performance of an act, in its general context, is an ________.
57
Findlaw
a portal on the Web providing links to wide range of law related information. It is owned by Thomson Reuters, but much of the info accessible through the portal is free.
58
Form books
books containing sample instruments that are helpful in drafting legal documents
59
Forms of action
conventions that governed common law pleadings and were the procedural devices used to give expression to the theories of liability recognized by the common law. Failure to analyze the cause of the action properly, to select the proper theory of liability and too choose the appropriate procedural mechanism or forms of action could easily result in being thrown out of court. A plaintiff had to elect his or her remedy in advance and could not subsequently amend the pleadings to conform to her proof or to the court's choice of another theory of liability. According to the relief sought, actions were divided into three categories: real actions brought to recoer real property and damages for injury to it; personal actions were brought to recover debts or personal property, or for injuries to personal, property, or contractual rights. The common law ______ were usually considered to eleven in number: trespass, trespass on the case, trover, ejectment, detinue, replevin, debt, covenant, account, special assumpsit, and general assumpsit.
60
Grand jury
a jury of six to twenty-three persons that sits permanently for a specified period and hears criminal accusations and evidence, and then determines whether indictments should be made.
61
Headnote
a brief summary of the legal rule or significant facts in a case that precedes the printed opinion in reports
62
Hearings
proceedings extensively employed by both legislative and administrative agencies to elicit facts or to make authorized determinations. Adjudicative _____ of administrative agencies can be appealed in a court of law. Investigative ______ are often held by congressional committees prior to enactment of legislation, and are important sources of legislative history.
63
Heinonline
database containing page images and searchable text of legal journals and other legal materials. Produced by the William S. Hein & Co.
64
Holding
the declaration of the conclusion of law reached by the court as to the legal effect of the facts of the case.
65
Holograph or Olograph
a will, deed, or other legal document that is entirely in the handwriting of the signer
66
Hornbook
the popular reference to a basic or rudimentary treatise that reviews a certain field of law in summary, textual form, as opposed to a casebook that is designed as a teaching tool and includes many reprints of judicial opinions
67
Indictment
a formal accusations of a crime made by a grand jury at the request of a prosecuting attorney
68
Information
an accusation based not on the action of a grand jury but rather on the affirmation of a public official
69
Injunction
a judge's order that a person do or, more commonly, refrain from doing a certain act. An ____ may be preliminary or temporary, pending trial of the issue presented, or it may be final if the issue has already been decided in court.
70
Jurisdiction
1. the power given to a court by a constitution or legislative body to make legally binding decisions over certain persons, property, or subject matter
2. the geographical area in which a court's decisions or legislative enactments are binding
71
Jurisprudence
1. the science or philosophy of law
| 2. a collective term for case law as opposed to legislation
72
Key number
a category of the major indexing system devised for American case law, developed by West Publishing Company. The _______ is a permanent number given to a specific point of law.
73
Legislative history
information embodies in legislative documents and other materials that provides background information and insight into the purpose and intent of statutes. Citations and dates of legislative enactments, amendments, and repeals of statutes are sometimes imprecisely identified as legislative histories. More accurate designations of these citations of legislative changes, as included in codes, are historical notes or amendatory histories.
74
Liability
the condition of being responsible either for damages resulting from an injurious act or for discharging an obligation or debt.
75
Libel
1. written or visual defamation of a person's character
| 2. in an admiralty court, the plaintiff's statement of the cause of action and the relief sought
76
Litigate
to bring a civil action in court
77
Looseleaf services and reporters
publications that contain federal and state administrative regulations and decisions or subject treatment of a legal topic. They traditionally consist of separate, perforated pages or pamphlet-sized inserts in special binders, simplifying frequent insertion or substitution of new material. Many are now also available online.
78
Mandatory authority
authority that a given court is bound to follow. _____ is found in constitutional provisions, legislation, and judicial opinions.
79
Memorandum
1. an informal record
2. a written document that may be used to prove that a contract exists
3. an exposition of all the points of law pertaining to a particular case (referred to as a "______ of law")
4. an informal written discussion of the merits of a matter pending in a lawyer's office, usually written by a law clerk or junior for a senior associate or partner (referred to as an "office ______")
80
Model codes
codes formulated by various groups or institutions to serve as model laws for legislatures. They are intended to improve existing laws or unify diverse state legislation
81
Moot point
a point that is no longer a subject of contention and that is raised only for the purpose of discussion or hypothesis. M
82
Motion
a formal request made to a court pertaining to any issue arising during the pendency of a lawsuit
83
National reporter system
the collection of reporters published by West, which attempts to publish and digest all cases of precedential value from all state and federal courts
84
Nisi Prius
generally, a court where a case is first tried, as distinguished from an appellate court
85
Noter up
1. the term used in British Commonwealth countries for a citator
2. the name of the updating service for Fundamentals of Legal Research and Legal Research Illustrated
86
Obiter Dictum
an incidental comment, not necessary to the formulation of the decision, made by the judge in his or her opinion. Such comments are not binding as precedent.
87
Official reports
court reports directed by statute
88
Opinion
an expression of the reasons why a certain decision (the judgment) was reached in a case. A majority _____ is usually written by one judge and represents the principles of law that a majority of her colleagues on the court deem operative in a given decision; it has more precedential value than any of the following. A separate _____ may be written by one or more judges in which she or they concur in or dissent form the majority opinion. A concurring ____ agrees with the result reached by the majority, but disagrees with the precise reasoning leading to that result. A dissenting _____ disagrees with the result reached by the majority and thus disagrees with the reasoning and/or principles of law used by the majority in deciding the case. A plurality _____ (called a "judgment" by the Supreme Court) is agreed to by less than a majority as to the reasoning of the decision, but is agreed to by a majority as to the result. A per curiam ____ is an opinion by the court that expresses its decision in the case but whose author is not identified. A memorandum ______ is a holding of the whole court in which the opinion is very concise.
89
Oral argument
a spoken presentation of reasons for a desired decision directed to an appellate court by attorneys for the parties
90
Ordinance
the equivalent of a municipal statute, passed by the city council and governing matters not already covered by federal or state law
91
Pamphlet supplement
a paperbound supplement to a larger bound volume, usually intended to be discarded eventually
92
Parallel citation
a citation reference to the same case printed in two or more different reports
93
Per curiam
literally, "by the court." Usually a short opinion written on behalf of the majority of the court but whose author is not identified. It may be accompanied by concurring or dissenting opinions
94
Permanent law
an act that continues in force for an indefinite time
95
Persuasive authority
a law or reasoning which a given court may, but is not bound to, follow. For example, decisions from one jurisdiction may be _____ in the courts of another jurisdiction
96
Petit jury
a group of six, nine, or twelve persons that decides questions of fact in civil and criminal trials
97
Petition
a formal, written application to a court requesting judicial action on a certain matter
98
Petitioner
the person presenting a petition to a court, officer, or legislative body; the one who starts an equity proceeding or the one who takes an appeal from a judgment
99
Plaintiff
the person who brings a lawsuit against another
100
Plea bargaining
the process whereby the accused and the prosecutor in a criminal case work out a mutually satisfactory disposition of the case. It usually involves the defendant's pleading guilty to a lesser offense or to only one or some of the counts of multi-count indictment in return for a lighter sentence than that possible for the graver charge
101
Pleadings
the technical documents by which parties to a dispute frame the issue for the court. The plaintiff's complaint or declaration is followed by the defendant's answer; subsequent papers may be filed as needed
102
Pocket supplement / Pocket part
a paperbound supplement to a book, inserted in the book through a slit in its back cover. Depending on the type of publication, it may have textual, case, or statutory reference keyed to the original publication
103
Popular name table
a table listing popular names by which certain cases or statutes have become known, and identifying for each ___ ___ the official name and citation of the case or statute
104
Power of attorney
a document authorizing a person to act as another's agent
105
Precedent
see Stare Decisis
106
Preliminary rints
the name given to the advance sheets of the official United States Reports
107
Presentment
in criminal law, a written accusation made by the grand jury without the consent or participation of a prosecutor
108
Presidential proclamation
a declaration issued under specific authority granted to the president by Congress. Generally, it relates to matters of widespread interest. Some _____ have no legal effect buy merely are appeals to the public, e.g., the observance of American Education Week.
109
Primary authority
the law itself; constitutions, statutes, case law, ordinances, and administrative regulations issued pursuant to enabling legislation. _____ may be either mandatory or persuasive. All other legal writings are secondary authority and are never binding on courts.
110
Private law
1. an act that relates to a specific person
| 2. that body of law that concerns relations between private parties rather than governmental powers and functions
111
Procedural law
the law which governs the operation of the legal system, including court rules and rules of procedure, as distinguished from substantive law
112
Public law
1. an act that affects the public as a whole It may be: a. general (applicable to each person in the jurisdiction); b. local (applicable to a specific geographic area); or c. special (concerning an entity charged with a public interest)
2. that body of law that concerns governmental powers and functions rather than relations between private parties
113
Ratio decidendi
the point in a case that determines the result -- the basis of the decision
114
Record
the documentation, prepared for an appeal, of the trial court proceedings (pleadings, motions, transcript of examination of witnesses, objections to evidence, rulings, jury instructions, opinion, etc.)
115
Regional reporter
a unit of the National Reporter System that reports state court cases from a defined geographical area
116
Regulations
rules or orders issued by various governmental departments to carry out the intent of the law. Agencies issue ____ to guide the activity of their employees and to ensure uniform application of the law. _____ are not the work of the legislature and do not have the effect of law in theory. In practice, however, because of the intricacies of judicial review of administrative action, _____ can have an important effect in determining the outcome of cases involving regulatory activity. US government ____ appear first in the Federal Register, published five days a week and are subsequently arranged by subject in the Code of Federal _____
117
Relief
the remedy or redress sought by a complainant from a court
118
Remand
the act o sending back for further proceedings, as when a higher court sends a case or claim back to a lower court
119
Reports
1. court ____ -- published judicial decisions organized on the basis of jurisdiction, court, period of time, subject matter, case significance or some other grouping
2. administrative _____ or decisions -- published decisions of an administrative agency
120
Resolution
a formal expression of the opinion of a rule-making body adopted by the vote of that body
121
Respondent
the party who makes an answer to a bill in an equity proceeding or who contends against an appeal
122
Restatements of the law
systematic _____ of the existing common law in certain areas, published by the American Law Institute since 1923. The ____ are valuable in secondary research sources, but are not binding as law.
123
Revised Statutes
in popular usage, a code. It is a collection of statutes that has been reorganized by subject matter and modified, as necessary, in order to create a harmonious body of law, while preserving the intent and meaning of each statute as originally enacted. In the process of preparing the ______, all temporary and repealed acts are deleted.
124
Rules of court
the rules regulating practice and procedure before the various courts. In most jurisdictions, these rules are issued by the individual courts or by the highest court in that jurisdiction
125
Sanction
1. to assent to another's actions
| 2. a penalty for violating a law
126
Scope note
a notation appearing below a topic heading in a publication that delimits and identifies the content of the topic
127
Section line
the subject of a key number in West's key number digests, printed after the key number
128
Session laws
laws enacted by legislature that are published in bound or pamphlet volumes after adjournment of each regular or special session
129
Shepardizing
a trademark of Reed Elsevier Properties Inc., descriptive of the general use of its Shepard's publications and citator service
130
Slip law
a legislative enactment published in pamphlet or single sheet form immediately after its passage
131
Slip opinion
an individual judicial opinion published separately soon after it is decided
132
Squib
a very brief rendition of a single case or a single point of law from a case
133
Star pagination
a scheme in unofficial print and electronic editions of court reports used to show where the pages of the text of the official edition begin and end
134
Stare decisis
the common law doctrine that states that when a court has formulated a principle of law as applicable to a given set of facts, it will follow that principle and apply it in future cases where the facts are substantially the same. It connotes the decision of present cases on the basis of past precedent.
135
Status table
gives the current status of a bill or court proceeding
136
Statutes
acts of legislature. Depending upon its context in usage, a statute may mean a single act of a legislature or body of acts that are collected and arranged according to a scheme or for a session of legislature or parliament
137
Statutes at Large
the official compilation of acts passed by US Congress. The arrangement is currently by Public Law number, and by chapter number in pre-1951 volumes. This is the official print of the law for citation purposes where titles of the US Code have not been enacted into positive law.
138
Statutes of limitations
laws setting time limits after which a dispute cannot be taken to court
139
Statutory instruments
English administrative regulations and orders. The terms applies especially to the administrative rules published since 1939, supplementing teh English administrative code, Statutory Rule and Orders
140
Statutory rules and orders
English administrative regulations and orders
141
Style of a case
the parties to a lawsuit as they are written in the heading at the beginning of written court document. Also known as the caption of a case.
142
Subpoena
a court order compelling a witness to appear and testify in a certain proceeding
143
Substantive law
the law which establishes rights and obligations, as distinguished from procedural law, which is concerned with rules for establishing their judicial enforcement.
144
Summons
a notice delivered by a sheriff or other authorized person informing a person that he or she is the defendant in a civil action, and specifying a time and place to appear in court to answer to the plaintiff
145
Supersede
to displace or to supplant one publication or its segment with another
146
Supreme Court
1. the court of last resort in the federal judicial system (the ____ of the US also has original jurisdiction in some cases)
2. in state judicial systems, except New York and Massachusetts, the highest appellate court or last resort
147
Table of cases
a list of cases, arranged alphabetically by case names, with citations and reference to the body of the publication where the cases are found or treated
148
Table of statutes
a list of statutes with references to the body of the publication where the statutes are treated or construed
149
Temporary law
an act that continues in force for a limited period of time
150
Term of court
the period of time prescribed by law during which a court holds session. The court's session may actually extend beyond the term. It often includes a reference to the time when the term begins. For example the October Term of the Supreme Court of US, which is not the only term during which the Court sits, lasts from October to June or July
151
Transcript of record
the printed record compiled in each case of the proceedings and pleadings necessary for the appellate court to review the history of the case
152
Treatise
a book-length exposition, which may be critical, evaluative, or interpretative, on a legal subject. Usually it is more thorough and authoritative than an encyclopedia article
153
Treaty
an agreement between two or more sovereign nations
154
Uniform laws
proposed statutes drafted for adoption by the several states in the interest of uniformity. A considerable number of ________ on various subjects have been approved by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL), and have been adopted by jurisdictions in the US and its possessions. An example fo a _____ is the Uniform Commercial Code, which has been adopted, with some modifications, by forty-nine states.
155
Uniform System of Citation
see Bluebook
156
Unofficial reports
court reports without statutory direction. They are not distinguished from official reports on grounds of varying quality or accuracy of reporting
157
Venue
the particular geographical area where a court with jurisdiction may hear a case
158
Verdict
the finding or decision of a jury in a civil or criminal case on the questions of fact submitted for their judgment
159
Westlaw
the CALR service produced by Thomson Reuters. ____ provides the full text of court decision, statutes, administrative materials, ALR annotations law review articles, Supreme Court Briefs, and other items.
160
Writ
a written order, of which there are many types, issued by a court and directed to an official or party, commanding the performance of some act
