Judge Will Rule Today on Request by Harding

While Tonya Harding observed, U.S. District Judge Owen Panner said Tuesday that he would rule today on whether to grant a temporary restraining order that would delay possible disciplinary action against her by the U.S. Figure Skating Assn.

After listening to arguments for almost two hours in a Portland, Ore., court, Panner called for a recess.

A five-member USFSA panel is scheduled to begin a hearing Thursday in Colorado Springs, Colo. The panel earlier found that there were reasonable grounds to believe Harding was involved in the plot to injure rival Nancy Kerrigan and if those findings were confirmed, Harding could be suspended from the sport.

Harding’s lawyers are seeking to postpone the USFSA hearing so she will have more time to prepare her defense.