Note 147 — Chapter XVI · THE COURTS, THE LAW, AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE.

Courts of law, in addition to awarding punishment in criminal cases and damages in civil cases are empowered to issue writs. Writs are orders or decrees commanding certain things to be done or left undone. They are addressed to other courts, or to public officials, or to individuals. The best-known of these writs is the writ of habeas corpus, an order issued to a jailor or other custodian commanding him to produce a person in court and show why he is held in custody. If the court finds that the person is wrongfully held in custody it orders his release. Another common writ is the writ of mandate (mandamus) issued to public officials to compel them to perform some duty which is imposed upon them by law. A writ of error is issued in order to carry a case from a lower to a higher court.