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 Pennsylvania, a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) is a legal measure used to provide immediate protection to an individual or entity by ordering another party to cease certain activities or to maintain certain behaviors temporarily. It is often used in situations where immediate harm might occur without court intervention. The TRO is designed to preserve the status quo until a formal hearing can be held for a preliminary injunction, which may last for the duration of a lawsuit. To obtain a TRO in Pennsylvania, the requesting party must file a motion with the court, typically demonstrating that they will suffer immediate and irreparable harm without the TRO, that they are likely to succeed on the merits of the case, and that the TRO is in the public interest. The court may issue a TRO without notice to the opposing party if the situation is urgent, but such orders are generally short-lived, and a hearing is scheduled promptly to determine if a preliminary injunction is warranted.