U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel delayed action Monday in a federal lawsuit filed in Austin over Texas driver's license requirements for immigrants.
A civil rights group is asking the court to block new rules, saying they discriminate against people who are in the United States legally.
But Yeakel told lawyers for the Texas Civil Rights Project and the Texas Department of Public Safety that they weren't yet ready to fight it out in his courtroom.
He set a new hearing for Sept. 21 to consider an injunction against enforcement of the requirements.
Those new rules require non-citizens to show official work authorization proof every six months to renew their licenses. Supporters of the new policy, including Gov. Rick Perry, say the rules are intended to keep illegal immigrants from getting licenses and fight fraud and identity theft.