The State Department of Justice is petitioning an appeals court to deny Brendan Dassey's lawyers' request for Dassey's release.

State officials made the decision about a half hour before the deadline of 5 p.m. Monday.

Prosecutors are asking for the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to deny the defense's request that Dassey should be released from prison while the rest of his case plays out.

Within 14 days, the state will request "en banc review," which would require all members of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to review Dassey's case instead of just three judges who heard arguments back in February.

Also Monday, Dassey's lawyers said they will file a formal reply to the state's argument on Tuesday by 5 p.m.

"Because this case is far from being concluded in the appellate courts and we are confident that Dassey's convictions for rape and murder will be upheld, there is no avenue for him to be released at this time," said DOG spokesman Johnny Koremenos, before the decision came down on Monday.

Last week, a three-judge panel of the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago ruled 2-1, upholding a lower court's ruling overturning his conviction.

They said Dassey's confession to murdering Teresa Halbach was coerced and inadmissible.

Dassey and his uncle Steven Avery have been serving life sentences, after being convicted for killing the freelance photographer.

Halbach was last seen on their Manitowoc County property on Halloween 2005.

The case gained international attention with the Netflix documentary series, "Making a Murderer."