Texas on Monday asked the U.S Supreme Court for more time to file court papers in its dispute with the federal government over President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration. The move is their latest attempt to delay a ruling in the case until after Obama leaves office. Texas led a group of 26 GOP governed states to stop Obama’s 2014 plan to protect millions of illegal immigrants from deportation. Lower courts blocked the executive action, prompting the Justice Department on Friday to launch an appeal to the Supreme Court.
Should the request made by Texas Solicitor General Scott Keller for a 30-day extension for filing court papers be granted, it could “run out the clock” on the Supreme Court being able to hear the case in its current term, which runs until June. Obviously, the Obama administration opposes the extension, and could counter by asking the court to expedite the case. If the Texas request is granted, oral arguments would not be held until fall 2016 with a ruling not likely until after Obama leaves office in January 2017.
