Preliminary injunction

Definition

A court order issued before a full trial that temporarily blocks a law or government action while litigation proceeds. To obtain one, a party must show it is likely to succeed on the merits, will suffer irreparable harm without it, and that the balance of hardships and public interest favor relief.

Examples

• •The district court issued a preliminary injunction blocking H.B. 1181; the Fifth Circuit reversed it by applying rational basis instead of strict scrutiny.

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