The writ of mandamus may be issued by the Supreme Court or the Court of First Instance, or any justice or judge thereof, during the term or at chambers, to any inferior tribunal, corporation, board or person to compel the performance of any act which the law especially enjoins as a duty resulting from an office, trust or station, but though it may require an inferior tribunal or any judge thereof, to exercise this judgment, or proceed to the discharge of any of its functions, it cannot control judicial discretion.
History —Code Civil Proc., 1933, § 650.