Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Venire facias \Ve*ni"re fa"ci*as\ [L., make, or cause, to come.]
   (Law)
   (a) A judicial writ or precept directed to the sheriff,
       requiring him to cause a certain number of qualified
       persons to appear in court at a specified time, to serve
       as jurors in said court.
   (b) A writ in the nature of a summons to cause the party
       indicted on a penal statute to appear. Called also
       {venire}.

Source : WordNet®

venire facias
     n : a judicial writ ordering a sheriff to summon people for jury
         duty