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 Alabama, a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) is a legal measure used to provide immediate but short-term protection to individuals or entities by ordering another party to cease or continue certain actions. It is typically granted without the presence of the party being restrained and is intended to prevent irreparable harm or maintain the status quo until a more formal hearing can be conducted. The TRO is often a precursor to a preliminary injunction, which may last for the duration of a lawsuit. To obtain a TRO in Alabama, the requesting party must file a motion along with a sworn statement detailing the need for immediate relief. The court will then consider whether there is a substantial likelihood of success on the merits of the case, whether the TRO is necessary to prevent irreparable harm, whether the harm to the applicant outweighs the harm to the restrained party, and whether the TRO would serve the public interest. If granted, a TRO is typically in effect for 10 days, after which a hearing must be held to determine if a preliminary injunction is warranted. The specific procedures and requirements for TROs are governed by the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure, particularly Rule 65.