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Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg issued an order Friday turning down an emergency stay application the Justice Department submitted Wednesday in a bid to head off a deposition of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. | Win McNamee/Getty Images SCOTUS punts on Ross deposition fight, for now

The Supreme Court is passing up, for now, the Trump administration’s request to block Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross from having to give testimony in lawsuits challenging the addition of a question on citizenship to the 2020 U.S. Census.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg issued an order Friday turning down an emergency stay application the Justice Department submitted Wednesday in a bid to head off depositions of Ross and Justice’s top civil rights official, acting Assistant Attorney General John Gore.

Ginsburg’s language suggested the court would reconsider the issue once the government exhausted challenges it has brought at the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals, attempting to halt the depositions ordered by a federal district court judge in Manhattan.

“The application is denied without prejudice, provided that the Court of Appeals will afford sufficient time for either party to seek relief in this Court before the depositions in question are taken,” the order said.

The impact of Ginsburg’s directive was somewhat confusing. While the 2nd Circuit has put Ross’ planned Oct. 11 deposition on hold, with a three-judge panel set to take up the issue on Tuesday, Gore’s deposition remains scheduled for Oct. 10. The Justice Department’s request to the 2nd Circuit to block that testimony was already rejected by that court early last week.

In view of Ginsburg’s order, the 2nd Circuit seems likely to allow the government time to scuttle Ross’ deposition even if the appeals court panel declines to grant DOJ’s request to block it.

However, Gore’s deposition next Wednesday appears set to proceed. Depending on the speed with which the 2nd Circuit acts in Ross’ case, the Justice Department might have a narrow window next Tuesday to ask the Supreme Court to block the Gore deposition, but that’s by no means assured.

A Justice Department spokesman did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment on Ginsburg’s order.