Mandamus (Noun)
Meaning
An extraordinary writ commanding an official to perform a ministerial act that the law recognizes as an absolute duty and not a matter for the official's discretion; used only when all other judicial remedies fail.
Classification
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents.
Examples
- The court issued a writ of mandamus to the agency, ordering them to disclose the requested documents within 30 days.
- The judge granted the petition for mandamus, requiring the state to take immediate action to address the unconstitutional conditions in the prison.
- The appellate court's decision was an abuse of discretion, prompting the petitioners to file a writ of mandamus to compel the court to reconsider its ruling.
- The state supreme court was petitioned for a writ of mandamus to compel the governor to convene a special legislative session to address the budget crisis.
- In a last-ditch effort to block the construction project, the environmental group filed a writ of mandamus to force the state to conduct a full environmental impact assessment.