By Jan Wolfe and David Shepardson
(Reuters) -A U.S. appeals court on Friday rejected a bid by groups representing landlords to halt the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s eviction moratorium, setting up a likely U.S. Supreme Court showdown.
In a written order, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit denied an emergency request by two chapters of the National Association of Realtors to stop the residential eviction ban.
The order sets the stage for the Supreme Court to hear arguments over whether President Joe Biden’s administration overstepped its authority by issuing the eviction moratorium.
A CDC spokeswoman declined to comment.
Under heavy political pressure, the CDC reversed course on Aug. 3 and issued a slightly narrower eviction moratorium just three days after the prior one expired.
The current moratorium covers nearly 92% of U.S. counties, but that could change based on COVID-19 conditions.
The moratorium currently in effect will last until Oct. 3.
(Reporting by Jan Wolfe and David Shepardson; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)