The full 15-judge U.S. Appeals Court for the Fourth Circuit announced Monday evening it will hear the Justice Department’s appeal to a travel ban injunction by a Maryland judge on May 8, according to a statement from the court.
The court will convene in Richmond, Va., to hear both sides make cases about President Trump’s revised travel ban, which was announced in early March and suspended visas to citizens of six countries in the Middle East and North Africa.It’s standard for three judges on the court to hear cases. However, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals did not disclose why it chose to hold an “initial en banc” hearing next month.The court is comprised of nine Democratic appointees, five Republicans appointees and one judge who was nominated by a Democratic and Republican president.The refugee and academic groups who brought the suit to the Maryland judge said they support the move.Across the country in Hawaii, another federal appeals court is considering a similar appeal following a Hawaiian judge’s blocking the visa ban.Both courts’ decision could ultimately be appealed to the Supreme Court, which is now comprised of five Republican appointees and four Democratic ones.
