what is certiorari

Certiorari is a legal process used to seek judicial review of a decision made by a lower court or a government agency. The term comes from the Latin words "certiorari volumus," which means "we wish to be made more certain." It is a writ issued by a higher court, such as an appellate court, to direct the lower court to send the record of the case for review. In the United States, certiorari is most commonly associated with the process used by the Supreme Court to review decisions of federal and state appellate courts. When a party loses in a court of law, they can petition the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their case by requesting a writ of certiorari. If the Supreme Court agrees to review the case, it is said to "grant certiorari," and if it does not, it is said to "deny certiorari".