What is an order to show cause?

An order to show cause is an order from a court in Washington that requires a person to appear before the court and explain why they should not be required to do something that the court is ordering. This could include anything from complying with an arbitration award, to paying a debt, to other legal matters. The order is typically served on the person by a law enforcement officer. Once served, the person has a certain amount of time, typically less than a week, to respond. In the context of arbitration law in Washington, an order to show cause is used when a party does not follow the rules of arbitration or does not comply with the award handed down by the arbitrator. It is used to compel a person to comply with the arbitration agreement. Typically, the order to show cause will direct the other party to appear in court and explain why they should not be held in contempt for not following the arbitration agreement and award. If the other party fails to appear or does not have a good reason, the court could then issue a contempt order, which would compel that party to comply with the arbitration agreement.

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What is an order to show cause?

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