What Can I Do If a Utah Judge Hasn't Ruled on My Ex Parte TRO After 8 Days?
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Reviewed & verified by A. Jason Velez, Esq.*
Managing Attorney, 1LAW · Last reviewed January 1, 2026
Legal Inquiry
Consumer Legal Issue
I filed for an ex parte temporary restraining order with injunctive relief. The clerk's office filed it, and it is in the judge's queue. It has been eight days, and the judge has not looked at it yet.
Attorney Answer
An eight-day wait on an ex parte temporary restraining order is unusual, since these requests exist specifically for situations that cannot wait for a normal hearing schedule, and courts generally understand that urgency. There can be legitimate administrative reasons for delay, such as court backlogs or a missing piece of paperwork, but you are not stuck simply waiting.
In Utah, temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions in civil cases are generally governed by Utah Rule of Civil Procedure 65A, which is built around the idea that ex parte relief is meant to be addressed quickly because it is meant to prevent immediate, irreparable harm. If a judge has not acted after more than a week, it is reasonable and appropriate to follow up.
Steps you can take right now: 1. Call the court clerk's office directly and ask for the status of your motion, whether it has been formally assigned to the judge, and whether anything is missing from your filing that is holding it up. 2. Ask whether you can file a short, written request asking the court to rule, sometimes called a motion to expedite or a status inquiry, explaining briefly why the delay is a problem for you. 3. If you are self-represented, Utah's court self-help resources can help make sure your filing is complete, since an incomplete filing is a common reason judges hold off on ruling. 4. If this involves an immediate safety threat, such as domestic violence, stalking, or a similar emergency, contact local law enforcement or 911. Law enforcement and the courts have separate emergency protective order processes in Utah that can sometimes provide faster protection outside normal court hours, and that path does not require waiting on this pending TRO. 5. Consider having an attorney contact the court on your behalf. An attorney can sometimes get a faster response through formal channels, and can also make sure your original filing gave the judge everything needed to act.
This is general legal information, not legal advice. A Utah attorney can look at your specific filing and the underlying case and help you get the judge's attention appropriately.
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- File or look up a case through the Utah State Courts, which serves the state.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why would a judge take over a week to rule on an ex parte TRO?
Common reasons include a heavy court caseload, an incomplete filing, or the request needing to be formally routed to the right judge. It does not necessarily mean anything is wrong with your request, but it is reasonable to follow up rather than simply wait.
Can I call the judge directly to ask about my TRO?
No, you generally cannot contact a judge directly about a pending case. You can contact the court clerk's office, which can check the status and tell you whether anything is missing, without discussing the merits of your request with the judge.
Is there a faster option if I'm in immediate danger?
Yes. If your situation involves domestic violence, stalking, or another immediate safety threat, contacting local law enforcement or calling 911 can lead to an emergency protective order process that operates separately from the civil court TRO you already filed.
