What is a writ of mandamus?

A writ of mandamus is a court order issued by a judge to a government official or public body to take a specific action. In Arizona, this action could be to prevent a wrongful or illegal action from happening, compelling a public agency to follow a law, or to fulfill any other legal duty or obligation. It is similar to an injunction, except that it is issued by the court and not just requested. A writ of mandamus can also be used in Arizona to challenge the decision of a public body or official that is deemed to be arbitrary, capricious, or exceed the authority of the agency or official. In other words, if a public body or official is not doing what the court feels is their legal duty, then it may issue a writ of mandamus to compel them to do so. For example, if an agency in Arizona is not following a state statute or law, a writ of mandamus could be issued to compel them to do so. It can also be used to compel an agency to follow their own rules or regulations. In some cases, a writ of mandamus may even be issued to compel an agency to act on an issue or a request that has been pending for an unreasonably long period of time. Overall, a writ of mandamus is a powerful court order that is used to compel a public body or official to take a specific action or to recognize their legal duty to take action. In Arizona, writs of mandamus can be sought by individuals, groups, or even the government itself.

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