Which legal term describes a request made to a court to order someone to do something or refrain from doing something?

The correct term that describes a request made to a court to order someone to do something or refrain from doing something is an injunction. An injunction is a type of equitable relief that a court can issue, commanding an individual or entity to either perform a specific act (mandatory injunction) or to refrain from doing something (prohibitory injunction). This legal remedy is often sought in circumstances where monetary damages would not adequately address the harm being caused, thus seeking immediate action to prevent ongoing or future harm.

Injunctions are a fundamental aspect of legal relief in disputes, particularly in cases relating to property rights, contractual obligations, and personal injury matters. Their purpose is to maintain the status quo or prevent irreparable harm before a final legal resolution can be achieved.

The other terms do not fit this definition as directly. A plea generally refers to a defendant's formal response to criminal charges. To sue means to initiate a legal proceeding against someone, but it does not specifically address the nature of requesting court orders. A citation can refer to a notice to appear in court or reference legal authority, but it does not pertain to the directive nature of the request involved in an injunction.