A temporary restraining order (TRO) is a court order requiring the parties to whom it is addressed not to engage in certain activity, or to continue to engage in certain activity, and is usually designed to maintain the current state of things (the status quo) until the court has the opportunity to hear a more complete presentation of the evidence—usually during an application for a temporary injunction that will remain in place while the lawsuit is pending.

In Mississippi, a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) is a legal measure used by courts to provide immediate but short-term relief to individuals or entities by preventing certain actions from being taken or by requiring certain actions to continue. The purpose of a TRO is to maintain the status quo until a more comprehensive hearing can be held, typically for a temporary injunction that would last for the duration of the legal proceedings. To obtain a TRO, the party seeking the order must file a motion along with their complaint, or at any time during the litigation, and must demonstrate that they will suffer immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage without the protection of a TRO. The court may issue a TRO without notice to the opposing party if it deems that notice should not be required. However, TROs are generally of limited duration and cannot exceed ten days unless extended by the court for good cause. The specifics of obtaining and enforcing a TRO can be found in the Mississippi Rules of Civil Procedure, and individuals seeking such orders are often advised to consult with an attorney to navigate the legal requirements and to effectively present their case to the court.