Ceit Butler
Petition: " A written address, embodying an application or prayer from the person or persons preferring it, to the power, body, or person to whom it is presented, for the exercise of his or their authority in the redress of some wrong, or the grant of some favor, privilege, or license. In practice. An application made to a court ex parte, or where there are no parties" Black's Law Dictionary, 2nd Edition.
That sounds a little too much like begging, to me. If I don't acknowledge the court's authority, why would I need them to exercise it? I'm thinking along slightly different lines...