Delaware Gov. John Carney is preparing to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court a federal appeals court ruling earlier this year that struck down provisions of the Delaware Constitution mandating political party balance on key state courts, according to papers filed with the high court.

Attorneys for the governor asked Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. on Thursday for a 60-day extension to petition for cert in the case and said he had hired new lawyers to argue the appeal.