noun. A writ issued by a court requiring a public official or entity to perform a duty associated with that office or entity.

noun. A legal proceeding seeking such a writ.

transitive verb. To serve or compel with such a writ.

To issue a mandamus to; serve with a mandamus.

noun. In law, a writ issuing from a superior court, directed to an inferior court, an officer, a corporation, or other body, requiring the person or persons addressed to do some act therein specified, as being within their office and duty, as to admit or restore a person to an office or franchise, or to deliver papers, affix a seal to a paper, etc.

noun. A writ issued by a superior court and directed to some inferior tribunal, or to some corporation or person exercising authority, commanding the performance of some specified duty.

noun. A common law prerogative writ that compels a court or government officer to perform mandatory or purely ministerial duties correctly.

noun. 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

"Cap* Husk writes me to keep his mandamus to bring with me, and pray let L "ColP Sherburne write what he wou'd have done with his; and so much for mandamus*"

alternative mandamus  peremptory mandamus  

judicial writ  writ  

Amos  Seamus  Shamus  famous  ignoramus  

cardo  certiorari  coeducation  dicimus  dimitto