Injunctions are judicial orders to cease and desist from certain activities—for example, destroying documents relevant to litigation. Injunctions can also order persons and businesses to do certain acts, such as releasing documents. Injunctions can be “temporary” or “permanent,” “preliminary” or “final,” depending on the circumstances. Injunctions are considered a type of “equitable remedy” at law, meaning they can be fashioned to meet many judicial needs. They are available only when irreparable injury is likely to occur in absence of an injunction.
Failure to obey an injunction can lead to severe penalties, such as fines and penalties for being in contempt of court. For example, the Taft-Hartley Act allows the U.S. president to seek an injunction imposing a 60-day “cooling-off” period, delaying a union’s strike in a labor dispute if the president determines the activity would harm national security or welfare.