what is a show cause notice

A show cause notice is a formal document given to a party in a dispute, requiring them to justify or explain something to the court or a relevant party. It is a type of court order that is used when the judge needs more information before deciding on a motion or relief. A show cause notice can be used in various legal proceedings, such as government contracting, where the government issues a notice to a contractor to show cause why enforcement proceedings should not be instituted. The notice outlines the details of the alleged offense and gives the receiving party an opportunity to remedy the situation before the contract is terminated. A show cause notice is also used in some jurisdictions to initiate a motion when a traditional notice of motion would not be sufficient. By presenting a show cause notice with supporting papers, the moving party has the opportunity to obtain the judges input at the outset of the motion, rather than waiting until all the moving, answering, and reply papers are fully submitted.