Travel ban decision in hands of federal appeals court judges

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court is set to decide whether to reinstate US President Donald Trump’s travel ban after a contentious hearing in which the judges hammered away at the administration’s motivations for the ban, but also directed pointed questions to an attorney for two states trying to overturn it.

It is unclear which way the three judges of the San Francisco-based 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will rule, though legal experts say the states appear to have the edge.

“I’m not sure if either side presented a compelling case, but I certainly thought the government’s case came across as weaker,” says Stephen Vladeck, a professor at the University of Texas School of Law.

A ruling could come as early as Wednesday and could be appealed to the US Supreme Court.

— AP