Which instrument is used to request urgent court action or a rapid hearing before trial?

• A. Stipulation
• B. Continuation
• C. Temporary Restraining Order
• D. Order to Show Cause

Answer: (D)

An Order to Show Cause is the procedural device used when urgent court action or a rapid hearing before trial is needed. It asks the court to issue an order on short notice directing the party to appear and show why the requested relief should not be granted, effectively accelerating the schedule for a hearing. This is especially useful when waiting for a full motion would cause irreparable harm or prejudice.

Stipulations are negotiated agreements between the parties and don’t by themselves compel urgent court action. A continuation is simply a request to move a scheduled hearing to a later date, not an instrument for obtaining immediate relief. A Temporary Restraining Order is an emergency remedy focused on preserving the situation to prevent harm, but the TRO is a separate tool; the mechanism to secure an expedited hearing or urgent relief is the Order to Show Cause.