Ferguson Suit Against Trump Travel Ban Can Proceed, Appeals Court Decides

SEATTLE, WA - The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday denied the Trump administration's request to suspend Attorney General Bob Ferguson's lawsuit against the president's travel ban.

The Trump administration had asked the court to hold the lawsuit in abeyance due to the president's intention to release a new executive order on travel.

Washington and Minnesota are suing the Trump administration to repeal the travel ban executive order, which prevented travelers from seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the U.S. Trump signed the order one month ago, but it was only in place for a week before Seattle U.S. District Court Judge James Robart on Feb. 3 granted a restraining order against it, which stopped it from being enforced nationwide.

On Feb. 4, the Trump administration asked the 9th Circuit to remove the Seattle judge's restraining order. Three judges from the court on Feb. 9 decided that the restraining order could remain in place. The following week, Robart said that Ferguson's suit against Trump could proceed; the administration appealed that decision, which led to the 9th Circuit's decision today to allow the suit to move forward.

Trump's new executive order on travel was expected last week, but the administration backed off. News reports indicate that a new order could possibly come the week of Feb. 27.

Image via Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson