The Book of Writs - With Sample Writs of Quo Warranto, Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Certiorari, and ProhibitionA writ is a form of written command in the name of a court or other legal authority to act, or abstain from acting, in some way. Typically, when one seeks a writ to be answered, they create a petition for the specified writ and file it in the appropriate higher court in order to have the higher court issue the writ to the lower court and force the lower court (or other applicable Respondent) to answer the writ. There are 5 different types of writs