Now, we wait for the 2nd Circuit Court to issue a decision, on each of the 5 suits' TROs. Remember, these hearings are to determine if the TROs, which were issued by the lower federal courts, are to remain in effect, while the trials, which still have to take place, in the lower federal courts of Judges Suddaby and Sinatra. If you recall, the 2nd Circuit stayed the TROs, without explanation. These hearings are to have the 2nd Circuit decide if:
1) the TROs are to remain in effect, while the suits work their way through the lower courts OR
2) the TROs are to remain on hold, while the suits work their way through the lower courts.
Judges Suddaby and Sinatra did not hold full trials, just hearings, to determine if the plaintiffs had a valid case, which should go to trial and to decide whether the lower courts should issue permanent restraining orders, against enforcement of the CCIA, once the trials had been completed.
If the 2nd Circuit Court does not validate each of the lower court's TROs, the lower court suits still go forward, just without the benefit of the TROs. If the 2nd Circuit decides that the TROs were meritorious, the lower court trials still take place, with the benefit of the TROs stopping enforcement of the CCIA.
Once the lower courts have had full trial and decisions, those judgements can be appealed, by either side, depending on the content and direction of those decisions.
Remember, also, that the SCOTUS has already provided guidance, to the 2nd Circuit, that they have to honor the letter and intent of the Bruen decision, when rendering their verdict and that, if the 2nd Circuit does not honor the Bruen decision, SCOTUS might step in, in an interlocutory manner, without the benefit of having to go through the full trials, at the lower federal court levels.
Whatever the 2nd Circuit Court decides, don't expect that to be the end. We will still have to have full trials, on each of the subjects raised, in each of the 5 initial suits. Whether that will happen on the lower court federal level or at he level of SCOTUS or both is what we will have to see. I'll not offer any guarantees, about either way but a prediction that the 2nd Circuit will try to dance around the intent of the Bruen decision. Depending on how they do that, SCOTUS might step in or it might still go back to the lower courts, for trial.
Yes, I know, it's complicated, beyond common sense but that's how our court system operates. It's slow and stop, to make sure that all Ts are crossed and all Is are dotted.
Gary