A Minnesota Writ of Certiorari (General) is a legal document issued by a court to review a lower court's decision. The writ is used to determine whether the lower court correctly applied the law and if the decision was proper. Generally, a writ of certiorari is requested by a party to a lawsuit who believes that the lower court's decision was improper or incorrect. There are two types of Minnesota Writ of Certiorari (General): discretionary writs and mandatory writs. A discretionary writ is issued at the discretion of the court, usually after the court has reviewed a petition and found that the lower court's decision may have been incorrect. A mandatory writ is issued when the court is required to review a lower court's decision due to legal requirements or precedent. The Minnesota Writ of Certiorari (General) is used to review decisions in civil and criminal cases, as well as administrative cases. The writ can be used to review decisions made by a court of appeals, a district court, or a county court. It is important to note that a writ of certiorari is not a new trial, but rather a review of the lower court's decision.