Definition
A writ compelling a government official or entity to perform a mandatory duty, Latin for 'we command.' It's how courts remind public servants that discretion has limits and duties aren't optional.
Example Usage
Citizens filed a petition for writ of mandamus after the agency refused to process their applications for over two years.
Origin
Latin meaning 'we command,' from the writ's opening words 'mandamus tibi' (we command you)
Fun Fact
Mandamus is an extraordinary remedy available only when the plaintiff has no other adequate remedy, meaning you need to exhaust all normal channels first.
Source: Common law writs and 28 U.S.C. § 1361 (federal mandamus jurisdiction)
Related Terms
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