But a split three-judge panel of the Atlanta-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit blocked Walker’s ruling from taking effect while it considers an appeal from Gov. Rick Scott and other Florida Republican officials.”We are glad that the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals has stayed the lower court’s reckless ruling,” said John Tupps, a spokesman for Scott. “Judges should interpret the law, not create it. Gov. Scott will never stop fighting for victims of crime and their families.”

The decision by the appellate court came less than two hours before Scott and GOP officials were scheduled to hold an extraordinary late-night meeting of the state’s clemency board Wednesday where they were poised to adopt new rules. The meeting was scrapped after the panel sided with Florida 2-1.