The US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Thursday granted the US Department of Labor’s motion to expedite briefing in its appeal of the court’s decision to issue a preliminary injunction blocking implementation of the new overtime rule that was slated to take effect on Dec. 1. National Law Review reports that under the expedited briefing schedule, the Department of Labor’s opening brief will be due on Dec. 16; the states’ brief in support of the district court’s injunction will be due on Jan. 17; and the Department of Labor’s reply brief will be due Jan. 31.