Question

What are the writs of assistance?

Answer 1

A writ of assistance is a written order (a writ) issued by a court instructing a law enforcement official, such as a sheriff or a tax collector, to perform a certain task. Historically, several types of writs have been called "writs of assistance". Most often, a writ of assistance is "used to enforce an order for the possession of lands".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writ_of_assistance