mandamus
/mænˈdeɪməs/
noun
- A legal order from a court that commands a government official or body to perform a specific duty required by law.
- The judge issued a mandamus ordering the city to release the public records.
- Without a mandamus, the department might have continued to ignore the court's ruling.
- The lawyer filed a petition for a writ of mandamus to compel the agency to process the application.