CERTIORARI,
practice. To be certified of; to be informed of. This is the name of a
writ issued from a superior court directed to one of inferior
jurisdiction, commanding the latter to certify and return to the former,
the record in the particular case. Bac. Ab. h. t.; 4 Vin. Ab. 330;
Nels. Ab. h. t.; Dane's Ab. Index, h. t.; 3 Penna. R. 24. A certiorari
differs from a writ of error. There is a distinction also between a hab.
corp. and a certiorari. The certiorari removes the cause; the hab.
corp. only supersedes the proceedings in below. 2 Lord Ray. 1102.
2.
By the common law, a supreme court has power to review the proceedings
of all inferior tribunals, and to pass upon their jurisdiction and
decisions on questions of law. But in general, the determination of such
inferior courts on questions of fact are conclusive, and cannot be
reversed on certiorari, unless some statute confers the power on such
supreme court. 6 Wend. 564; 10 Pick. 358; 4 Halst. 209. When any error
has occurred in the proceedings of the court below, different from the
course of the common law, in any stage of the cause, either civil or
criminal cases, the writ of certiorari is the only remedy to correct
such error, unless some other statutory remedy has been given. 5 Binn.
27; 1 Gill & John. 196; 2 Mass. R. 245; 11 Mass. R. 466; 2 Virg.
Cas. 270; 3 Halst. 123; 3 Pick. 194 4 Hayw. 100; 2 Greenl. 165; 8
Greenl. 293. A certiorari, for example, is the correct process to remove
the proceedings of a court of sessions, or of county commissioners in
laying out highways. 2 Binn. 250 2 Mass. 249; 7 Mass. 158; 8 Pick. 440
13 Pick. 195; 1 Overt. 131; 2 Overt. 109; 2 Pen. 1038; 8 Verm. 271 3
Ham. 383; 2 Caines, 179.
3.
Sometimes the writ of certiorari is used as auxiliary process, in order
to obtain a full return to some other process. When, for example, the
record of an inferior court is brought before a superior court by
appeal, writ of error, or other lawful mode, and there is a manifest
defect, or a suggestion of diminution, a certiorari is awarded requiring
a perfect transcript and all papers. 3 Dall. R. 413; 3 John. R. 23; 7
Cranch, R. 288; 2 South. R. 270, 551; 1 Blackf. R. 32; 9 Wheat. R. 526; 7
Halst. R. 85; 3 Dev. R. 117; 1 Dev. & Bat. 382; 11 Mass. 414; 2
Munf. R. 229; 2 Cowen, R. 38. Vide Bouv. Inst. Index, h. t.
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