Judicial process
Black's Law Dictionary · Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
Black's Law Dictionary
In a wide sense, this term may include nil the acts of a court from the beginning to the end of its proceedings in a given cause ; but more specifically it means the writ, summons, mandate, or other process which is used in inform the defendant of the institution of proceedings against him and to compel his appearance, in either civil or criminal cases.
See State v. Guilbert, 56 Ohio St. 575, 47 N. E. 551, 38 In R. A. 519, 60 Am. St. Rep. 756; In re Smith (D. Ct) 132 Fed. 303.