A sworn statement taken outside of court that provides evidence to the court is known as?

The correct answer is that a sworn statement taken outside of court that provides evidence to the court is known as an affidavit. An affidavit is a written statement in which the person making the statement (affiant) swears to the truth of the contents, typically before a notary public or another authorized officer. This document can be used as evidence in legal proceedings because it has been sworn under oath, giving it legal weight.

In contrast, while a deposition is also a legal procedure where witnesses provide sworn testimony outside of court, it specifically refers to the oral examination that takes place during the discovery phase of litigation. The differences between these terms lie in their usage; thus, an affidavit is meant to be a written declaration, while a deposition involves verbal testimony collected in a question-and-answer format.

The other options, such as a writ of mandamus, are legal orders from a court directing a lower court or government official to perform mandatory or purely ministerial duties. A writ of certiorari is a type of order by which a higher court reviews a decision of a lower court. These do not pertain to providing sworn statements or evidence in the way that an affidavit does.