venire facias

Etymology
Borrowed from, from the opening words of the writ.

Noun

 * 1)  A judicial writ or precept directed to the sheriff, requiring him to cause a certain number of qualified persons to appear in court at a specified time to serve as jurors.
 * 2)  A summons to cause the party indicted on a penal statute to appear.
 * 3)   A writ directed to the sheriff, requiring him to cause the person named in the writ to appear in court to respond to a civil (non-criminal) claim against him or her.
 * 1)  A summons to cause the party indicted on a penal statute to appear.
 * 2)   A writ directed to the sheriff, requiring him to cause the person named in the writ to appear in court to respond to a civil (non-criminal) claim against him or her.
 * 1)   A writ directed to the sheriff, requiring him to cause the person named in the writ to appear in court to respond to a civil (non-criminal) claim against him or her.
 * 1)   A writ directed to the sheriff, requiring him to cause the person named in the writ to appear in court to respond to a civil (non-criminal) claim against him or her.