What is "prerogative writ"

n. (context legal English) A class of writ that effects control over an inferior court or public authority.

A prerogative writ is a writ (official order) directing the behavior of another arm of government, such as an agency, official, or other court. It was originally available only to the Crown under English law, and reflected the discretionary prerogative and extraordinary power of the monarch. The term may be considered antiquated, and the traditional six comprising writs may also be identified as an extraordinary writ or extraordinary remedy.

Six writs are traditionally classified as prerogative writs:

• certiorari, an order by a higher court directing a lower court to send the record in a given case for review;
• habeas corpus, demands that a prisoner be taken before the court to determine whether there is lawful authority to detain the person;
• mandamus, an order issued by a higher court to compel or to direct a lower court or a government officer to perform mandatory duties correctly;
• prohibition, directing a subordinate to stop doing something the law prohibits;
• procedendo, to send a case from an appellate court to a lower court with an order to proceed to judgment;
• quo warranto, requiring a person to show by what authority they exercise a power.

Additionally, scire facias, one of the extraordinary writs, was once known as a prerogative writ.