TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER (TRO) PROCEDURES
(Updated 1/24/26)
 

When filing a Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order with the court, you must choose Motion for Temporary Restraining Order under the Motions category, so the court receives appropriate notice of your filing. You must also complete the PDF checklist below and file it as an attachment to your motion in CM/ECF. If you have questions, please call the CM/ECF Help Desk at:

1-866-8845525 (Sacramento)
or
1-866-884-5444 (Fresno)

Temporary Restraining Order Checklist - Required [pdf]

 

AFTER HOURS TROs

ATTORNEYS

If you are filing a new case that contains a Motion for TRO after hours, file your case via CM/ECF using the Lodge AT Case event, pay your fee, file your Complaint, Motion for TRO and TRO Checklist in the AT case and the court will receive notification.

If you are filing a TRO after hours in an existing case, file your Motion, TRO Checklist and supporting documents in CM/ECF.  The court will receive notification of the filing.

PRO SE LITIGANTS

If you are filing a new case that contains a Motion for TRO after hours, send the Complaint, Civil Cover Sheet, TRO Checklist, any Motion to Proceed In Forma Pauperis and the Motion for TRO in PDF format to: EmergencyFiling@caed.uscourts.gov. The Court must receive all documents in order for your TRO case to be opened and considered.

If you are filing a TRO after hours in an existing case, email your TRO Motion and Checklist in PDF format to: EmergencyFiling@caed.uscourts.gov. 

AFTER HOURS TROs: While Local Rule 134(d): After-Hours Filed Documents states documents including motion for temporary restraining orders, filed electronically after normal business hours of the Clerk's Office will not be reviewed by the Court until the next business day, at the earliest, judges are notified as soon as possible of these filings, and they are addressed with the highest priority the next business day.

 

EMERGENCY AFTER HOURS TROs

If imminent harm will occur, or the court will lose jurisdiction if a TRO is not addressed before the next business day, an attorney or party may certify under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11 that the court should address a TRO immediately, before the next business day.  To file such an Emergency Petition, follow the After Hours TRO Procedures above AND send an email and all of your documents in PDF to EmergencyFiling@caed.uscourts.gov.  In your Email Subject include your case number and in your message describe the imminent harm that will occur or why the court will lose jurisdiction before the next business day if the TRO is not addressed by the assigned judge after hours.