**This article is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney.**

The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit has issued a temporary stay of Judge Christina Armijo’s November 1, 2013 decision that would have allowed federal agencies to conduct inspections of potential horse slaughter facilities, thereby allowing horse slaughter to resume in the United States.

The Plaintiffs in the case (which include numerous animal rights groups and activists as well as the State of New Mexico) filed an Emergency Motion for Injunction Pending Appeal on Monday, November 4, 2013.  The Tenth Circuit ordered expedited  briefing on this Motion and the briefing from both sides should be completed by the end of this week.

In the meantime, the Tenth Circuit has prohibited federal officials from dispatching inspectors or providing inspection services to horse slaughterhouse facilities in New Mexico, Missouri, and Iowa.