A district court judge may order the issuance of a writ to an inferior tribunal, board, or officer, or to a judicial magistrate. The writ shall be issued by the clerk of the court where the petition is filed, under its seal. It shall command the defendant to certify to that court, at a specified time and place, a transcript of so much of the defendant’s records and proceedings as are pertinent to the petition, together with the facts of the case, described with reasonable certainty.