After hearing both cases, the three-judge panel indicated they would rule on the case in the near future, but urged the parties to continue independent talks in an effort to resolve their issues.
The hearing came as a result of a lower court’s ruling to lift the NFL lockout on April 25. Four days later, the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals granted the league’s motion for a temporary stay of the order, and a permanent stay was issued in mid-May.
The June 3rd date was granted by the NFL’s request for an expedited appeal, an attempt to end the dissension before the scheduled beginning of the 2011 season.
“The fastest way to get football back on the field is to get extraneous anti- trust law considerations out of this and get back to the bargaining table,” NFL attorney Paul Clement said. “I think that’s the real takeaway here and beyond that we obviously accomplished answering the judge’s question and giving them our best thoughts why it is that not only is that the common sense way to get football back on the field, but that’s also the answer that the laws provide.”
The two parties have met recently in confidential discussions in Chicago.
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