Which term involves the Supreme Court ordering the lower court to forward case records?

Which term involves the Supreme Court ordering the lower court to forward case records?

• A. Rule of four
• B. Original intent
• C. Writ of habeas corpus
• D. Writ of certiorari

Answer: (D)

A writ of certiorari is the instrument the Supreme Court uses to obtain the records of a case from a lower court for review. When the Court agrees to hear a case, it issues this writ, and the lower court is ordered to forward the complete case records so the justices can examine them. This process is how the Supreme Court supervises and ultimately decides cases from the lower courts. The other terms describe different ideas: the rule of four is the voting threshold to grant certiorari, not the act of sending records; a writ of habeas corpus challenges the legality of detention; and original intent is a method of interpreting the Constitution based on its original meaning.

A writ of certiorari is the instrument the Supreme Court uses to obtain the records of a case from a lower court for review. When the Court agrees to hear a case, it issues this writ, and the lower court is ordered to forward the complete case records so the justices can examine them. This process is how the Supreme Court supervises and ultimately decides cases from the lower courts. The other terms describe different ideas: the rule of four is the voting threshold to grant certiorari, not the act of sending records; a writ of habeas corpus challenges the legality of detention; and original intent is a method of interpreting the Constitution based on its original meaning.