Which of the following terms refers to a writ used to request the Supreme Court to review a lower court's decision?

• A. Writ of Mandamus
• B. Writ of Certiorari
• C. Petition for Review
• D. Certificate of Appeal

Answer: (B)

Writ of certiorari is the tool the Supreme Court uses to decide whether to review a lower court’s ruling. Litigants file a petition for certiorari, asking the Court to hear the case. The Court then exercises its discretion and will grant the writ if four justices agree, adding the case to the docket for consideration. This isn’t an automatic right of appeal; the Court selects cases that present important legal questions, involve conflicts among lower courts, or have broad national significance. Writ of mandamus is an order directing a government official or lower court to perform a duty, not a vehicle for reviewing a lower court’s decision. Petition for review and certificate of appeal aren’t the standard terms used by the Court to initiate review in this context.