Court won't delay immigration hearings

ATLANTA (AP) - A federal appeals court in Atlanta has denied requests by Georgia and Alabama to delay action on legal challenges to their tough new laws targeting illegal immigration pending the outcome of a U.S. Supreme Court decision on a similar challenge to Arizona's immigration law.

The 11th U.S. Circuit of Appeals on Thursday issued orders denying motions filed last week by the attorneys general of the two states. The Supreme Court said Dec. 12 that it would review a federal appeals court ruling that blocked parts of the Arizona law.

Both Georgia and Alabama's laws have been challenged by activist groups, and Alabama's has also been challenged by the Obama administration. Both cases were set for hearings in the federal appeals court early next year.