Legal Definitions - Temporary restraining order

A temporary restraining order (TRO) is a short-term injunction that can be issued by a judge to prevent immediate harm or injury to a person or entity. It is a stop-gap measure that only lasts until a hearing can be held to determine whether a preliminary injunction should be granted.

To obtain a TRO, a party must convince the judge that they will suffer immediate and irreparable harm unless the order is issued. The judge may issue the order immediately, without informing the other parties or holding a hearing. However, the order will only last for 14 days unless it is extended or the other party consents to a longer period.

For example, if a person is being threatened with physical harm by someone else, they may seek a TRO to prevent the other person from coming near them. The TRO would be in effect until a hearing could be held to determine whether a preliminary injunction should be granted.

In another example, a company may seek a TRO to prevent a former employee from sharing confidentialinformation with a competitor. The TRO would be in effect until a hearing could be held to determine whether a preliminary injunction should be granted.

These examples illustrate how a TRO can be used to prevent immediate harm or injury to a person or entity. It is a temporary measure that is meant to provide protection until a more permanent solution can be reached through a hearing.