(a) Reserved
(b) Temporary Restraining Order
(1) Issuance Without Notice Disfavored: Motions for temporary restraining orders
without notice to and an opportunity to be heard by the adverse party are disfavored and
will rarely be granted. Unless the requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(b) for issuance
without notice are satisfied, the moving party must serve all motion papers on the
opposing party, by electronic means if available, before or contemporaneously with the
filing of the motion and include a certificate of service with the motion. The motion must
also include contact information for the opposing party’s counsel or for an unrepresented
party.
(2) Length of Motion; Noting Date: The motion must not exceed 8,400 words or, if
written by hand or typewriter, twenty-four pages in length and may be noted for the same
day it is filed.
(3) Procedure: Counsel must file emergency motions electronically unless the case is
sealed in its entirety. Pro se parties who choose not to file electronically should, if
possible, bring their emergency motions to the court during normal business hours to
avoid the delay of mailing. After the motion is filed, the filer must promptly call the
Clerk’s Office at (206) 370-8400 (Seattle) or (253) 882-3800 (Tacoma) to advise the court
that it has filed an emergency motion. The clerk will promptly assign a judge and advise
his or her chambers of the emergency nature of the filing. The court may consider the
motion on the papers or schedule a hearing.
(4) Proposed Order: A motion for a temporary restraining order must include a proposed
order specifically setting forth the relief requested and describing in reasonable detail the
act or acts to be restrained or required.
(5) Response: Unless the court orders otherwise, the adverse party must (1) file a notice
indicating whether it plans to oppose the motion within twenty-four hours after service of
the motion, and (2) file its response, if any, within forty-eight hours after the motion is
served. The response may not exceed 8,400 words or, if written by hand or typewriter,
twenty-four pages in length, and no reply will be permitted. If the movant meets the
requirements of Fed. R. Civ. P. 65(b), the court may grant the motion without awaiting a
response.
(6) Courtesy Copy: Courtesy copies are not required unless otherwise ordered by the
Court. Parties should consult their assigned judge’s web page at www.wawd.uscourts.gov
for standing orders and guidance regarding courtesy copies.
Civil Rules
