The appeal against Alabama’s immigration law has been set in the docket. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals has scheduled oral arguments for March 1st, a month before the U.S. Supreme Court will listen to the appeal of Arizona’s similar immigration law.
In the Alabama case, attorneys for the state will be in Atlanta defending the law, which is being challenged by the Obama administration and civil rights advocates.

State House sponsor Mickey Hammon of Decatur said the tough law will likely head to the Supreme Court after the 11th Circuit’s ruling.

The 11th Circuit previously upheld some key parts of the Alabama immigration law, including the requirements for law enforcement to check citizen status of drivers they pull over who do not produce a license. Hammon said he believes the appeal led by the U.S. Department of Justice will not hold up in court.

“We feel confident that our law will hold up in court. As a matter of fact, more of our law has been upheld so far than anyone else’s. So, we feel confident that when our law reaches the Supreme Court, all or the majority of our law will be upheld,” Hammon said. “We have done very well in the 11th Circuit so far. A lot of our law has been upheld there so far and allowed to go into effect. So that’s a very good sign. Even the parts that they have stayed, our attorney general will continue to appeal those decisions. And I’m sure all of this will be before the Supreme Court soon. But, we feel confident. We’re going to win this case.”

The Supreme Court has already upheld the E-Verify part of Alabama’s immigration law. As of January 1st, companies doing business with the government must use the system to verify employers’ legal workers. All state businesses have to adhere to the law by April.