MADISON, Wis. (WSAU) – A state appeals court said no this afternoon to re-instating Wisconsin’s voter I-D law, before a lower court judge can make his final ruling in the case.

The Justice Department is trying to bring back the photo I-D mandate for the state’s six recall elections in May and June. And the department still has one more chance, in an appeal that’s still pending in a second lawsuit.

Today, the Second District Appellate Court in Waukesha refused to throw out a preliminary injunction against the I-D law which Dane County Circuit Judge David Flanagan imposed last month. He halted the law’s enforcement until a trial could be held in a challenge to the I-D requirement, filed by the N-Double-A-C-P and a Milwaukee Hispanic group.

Flanagan said he would not rule on that case until late June at the earliest. And the appellate court said it won’t act at least until Flanagan makes his decision.

Meanwhile, the Justice Department continues to appeal a permanent injunction against the I-D law, granted by Dane County Judge Richard Niess (nees) in a separate lawsuit from the state’s League of Women Voters.