What does a writ of injunction compel?

A writ of injunction is a legal order issued by a court that compels an individual or entity to either perform a specific act or, more commonly, to refrain from engaging in certain conduct. In this context, the correct answer focuses on the aspect of restraint, which is a fundamental purpose of an injunction.

Injunctions are often sought to prevent potential harm that could arise from actions that a party is threatening to undertake. For instance, if a party is planning to take an action that could cause irreparable harm to another party, the aggrieved party may seek an injunction to stop that action from occurring. This makes the writ of injunction a vital tool for maintaining the status quo and protecting rights before the matter is fully addressed in court.

The other options, while related to legal proceedings, do not accurately reflect the primary function of an injunction. Compliance with a legal agreement might involve other forms of legal action, such as specific performance. A court reviewing a previous ruling pertains to the concept of appeals, while compelling a government to implement a new law involves legislative mandates, which are outside the scope of an injunction. Thus, the focus of a writ of injunction is squarely on compelling a person to refrain from a specific action.