Word of the Day
May 19, 2020
Writ
A formal written order issued by a court or other legal authority commanding someone to do or refrain from doing a specified act.
From Old English 'writ' meaning something written, derived from 'writan' (to write). In legal usage, it refers to a formal order from a court or sovereign authority.
Usage Examples
- The British Writs of Assistance allowed customs officials to search any colonial home without specifying what they sought.
- James Otis resigned his government position rather than defend the writ that violated colonists' natural rights.
- The Founders' experience with general writs directly inspired the Fourth Amendment's requirement for specific warrants.
From the Show
The concept of writs, particularly the infamous Writs of Assistance, dominated the May 19, 2020 discussion as Ben Martin traced how British general search warrants sparked James Otis’s legendary five-hour defense of colonial rights in 1761.