(CNN) The Justice Department won't have to give the House of Representatives secret details from the Mueller criminal investigation for use in its impeachment probe this week, a federal appeals court said Tuesday. But it's not clear yet how long that deadline to turn over the information will stay on hold.

The case over the grand jury secrets has become one of several ongoing separation of powers court battles, all of which are testing whether the Trump administration or President Donald Trump himself can stonewall the House as it collects evidence and considers impeaching the President. So far, the administration has been successful in delaying the House probe by holding up testimony from witnesses, Trump financial document subpoenas and even the Mueller grand jury information-sharing.

Yet federal judges have roundly shot down the administration's arguments so far, repeatedly saying the House deserves the information it says it needs.

In this case, the House Judiciary Committee sued for access to details that former special counsel Robert Mueller collected using a confidential federal grand jury during his two-year-long criminal investigation into whether Trump obstructed justice and whether his administration or campaign encouraged foreign interference in elections.

A trial-level judge held Friday that the Justice Department must release the details to the House, citing several historical impeachments of presidents and even the Federalist Papers' views on impeachment proceedings. The judge, Beryl Howell of the DC District Court, gave the Justice Department a deadline of Thursday.

Read More