Submittimus

Submittimus is a legal term referring to a writ, which is a formal written order issued by a court. Specifically, a submittimus is a writ that commands a lower court or official to send up the record of a case or proceeding for review by a higher court. This is typically done when a party is seeking an appeal or a higher court is exercising its supervisory jurisdiction. The purpose of the writ is to provide the appellate court with all the necessary documentation and evidence to make a determination on the matter. The term itself is derived from Latin, meaning "we submit." When a submittimus is issued, the lower court or tribunal is compelled to comply with the order and forward the requested materials without delay. Failure to do so can result in penalties for the lower court or official. In essence, it is a mechanism for ensuring that higher courts have access to the complete case file when reviewing decisions or actions taken by lower judicial bodies or administrative agencies.