The writ of prohibition arrests the proceedings of any tribunal, corporation, board, or person exercising judicial functions, when such proceedings are without or in excess of the jurisdiction of such tribunal, corporation, board, or person.
§ 1102.Writ Arrests Proceedings
Title 1. Of Writs of Review, Mandate, and Prohibition · Chapter 3. Writ of Prohibition · Last amended 1955 · Last verified July 29, 2026
In one sentenceSection 1102 describes the effect of a writ of prohibition: it arrests, or stops, the proceedings of a tribunal, corporation, board, or person exercising judicial functions when those proceedings are being conducted without jurisdiction or in excess of it.
Full Text of § 1102
Plain-English Summary
Where the writ of review corrects a completed act after the fact, the writ of prohibition stops an ongoing one before it finishes. Section 1102 captures that forward-looking function: the writ arrests the proceedings of a tribunal, corporation, board, or person exercising judicial functions whose proceedings are without or in excess of jurisdiction.
The range of targets is broader than § 1068's writ of review -- it reaches corporations and persons exercising judicial functions, not just tribunals, boards, and officers. What triggers the writ is the same jurisdictional concept: acting without any jurisdiction at all, or exceeding whatever jurisdiction does exist.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a writ of prohibition do?
It arrests -- stops -- proceedings that are being conducted without jurisdiction or in excess of jurisdiction by a tribunal, corporation, board, or person exercising judicial functions.
How is a writ of prohibition different from a writ of review?
The writ of review corrects a completed proceeding after the fact; the writ of prohibition stops an ongoing proceeding before it's completed.
Amendment History
Amended by Stats. 1955, Ch. 971.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 29, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: writ of prohibition californiawrit of prohibition definition california