Request to delay travel-ban case denied

SEATTLE — A federal appeals court on Monday denied a request from the U.S. Justice Department to put President Donald Trump’s travel ban case on hold until he issues a new executive order.

A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals did not give an explanation for its ruling but extended until next week the deadline for the government to file its opening appeal brief.

A lower court temporarily blocked Trump’s order after Washington state and Minnesota sued to stop it. The order banned travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries and paused the U.S. refugee program.

Trump has said that his administration is working on a new travel ban that addresses some of the constitutional concerns that critics have raised.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the government would still defend the appeals case “because we were right the first time.”

“While the new executive order attempts to address the court’s concerns that they made, the goal is obviously to maintain the way that we did it the first time because we believe that the law is very clear about giving the president the authority that he needs to protect the country,” Spicer said.