| From Chapter: Understanding the U.S. Supreme Court What is a writ of certiorari petition? |
| A request from a party to a lawsuit (the petitioner) to have a higher court (e.g., the Supreme Court) exercise its discretionary authority to order an inferior court to send up the records of a case for appellate review. It is the primary method by which the U.S. Supreme Court exercises its discretionary jurisdiction to accept appeals for a full hearing. |