u.s. president donald trump face uphill battle overcome federal judge temporary hold travel ban seven mainly muslim countries outcome rule executive order ultimate legality less certain appeal decisions u.s. district court judge jam robart seattle face regional court dominate liberal-leaning judge might sympathetic trump rationale ban currently shorthanded supreme court split 4-4 liberals conservatives temporary restrain order robart issue friday seattle apply nationwide give time consider case detail also send signal likely impose permanent injunction trump administration appeal order san francisco-based 9th u.s. circuit court appeal say late saturday would decide whether lift judge rule request u.s. government receive brief side administration file due monday appeal court generally leery upend status quo case suspension ban upheaval prompt new republican administration initial announcement ban jan. 27 travelers detain airports upon enter country would potentially kickstarted robart stay lift appeal court might also take account fact several case around country challenge ban overturn district court decision another judge somewhere else unite state could impose new order set new cascade court file appeal court uphold order administration could immediately ask u.s. supreme court intervene high court generally reluctant get involve case preliminary stage legal experts say high court short one justice year leave split liberals conservatives emergency request administration would need five vote grant mean least one liberals would vote favor think court go feel every reason stay sideline long possible say steve vladeck professor university texas school law trump last week nominate conservative appeal court judge neil gorsuch fill vacancy sit supreme court least two months gorsuch vote confirm u.s. senate could come play case reach court late stage litigation case proceed past injunction stage litigation onto merit whether order legally sound legal experts differ strong government case would richard primus professor constitutional law university michigan law school say administration could struggle convince court ban justify national security concern supreme court previously reject idea government need offer basis action national security context include landmark 1971 pentagon paper case administration president richard nixon try unsuccessfully prevent press publish information unite state policy toward vietnam government argument far support order pretty weak primus say jonathan adler professor case western reserve university school law say administration legal precedent side court generally deferential executive action immigration however say unusual court ask endorse policy appear adopt kind haphazard arbitrary way one appear be trump face uphill battle overcome court 's hold travel ban