(CNN) -- A federal appeals court in San Francisco has temporarily halted the forced medication of Tucson shooting defendant Jared Loughner until a three-judge panel can hear competing arguments from his lawyers and prosecutors by mid-week. Loughner is charged with seriously wounding U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in a January rampage that also left six others dead. The brief order from a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals set a tight deadline for lawyers from both sides to file more detailed legal briefs. The federal government has until 5 p.m. PT Wednesday to argue the involuntary medication should continue.
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Last week, Loughner's attorney lost a motion asking for a halt to the forced medication
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But a federal appeals court on Tuesday temporarily halts the forced medication
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Loughner should have received milder tranquilizers, his attorneys argued
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Loughner suffers from mental illness
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@placeholder has already started receiving the powerful drugs, and lawyers representing Loughner contend that forcing him to take the drugs against his will violates his rights.
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Loughner has already started receiving the powerful drugs, and lawyers representing @placeholder contend that forcing him to take the drugs against his will violates his rights.