What is an injunction for protection and how do I fight it?

An injunction — commonly called a restraining order — is a civil proceeding. Someone petitions the court alleging they're a victim of, or in reasonable fear of, violence. Florida has several types, including domestic violence, repeat violence, dating violence, sexual violence, and stalking.

It runs entirely separately from any criminal case. You can be acquitted criminally and still have an injunction entered, because the standard of proof is lower.

The sequence: a petition is filed, a judge reviews it, and a temporary injunction may be entered immediately without you present. A hearing is then set, usually within about two weeks, where both sides appear.

That hearing is the whole thing. It's where evidence is presented, witnesses testify, and the judge decides whether to enter a final injunction. People routinely show up unrepresented, without evidence, and treat it as a formality. It isn't.

What helps: your own texts and messages, witnesses, photographs, and a clear account of the relevant events.