The Latest: Virginia challenges Trump travel ban in court

Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, right, accompanied by Virginia Solicitor General Stuart Raphael, speaks outside the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Va., Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, following a hearing on President Donald Trump's travel ban. Lawyers for the state of Virginia are challenging President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration, arguing in federal court that his seven-nation travel ban violates the Constitution and is the result of "animus toward Muslims." (AP Photo/Jessica Gresko) (The Associated Press)

Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, right, accompanied by Virginia Solicitor General Stuart Raphael, speaks outside the federal courthouse in Alexandria, Va., Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, following a hearing on President Donald Trump's travel ban. Lawyers for the state of Virginia are challenging President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration, arguing in federal court that his seven-nation travel ban violates the Constitution and is the result of "animus toward Muslims." (AP Photo/Jessica Gresko) (The Associated Press)

Counselor to President Donald Trump Kellyanne Conway speaks during a television interview with the White House in the background, in Washington, Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017, about the Federal appeals court refusal to reinstate President Donald Trump's travel ban. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) (The Associated Press)

The Latest on the state of Virginia's challenge to President Donald Trump's travel ban (all times local):

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12:45 p.m.

Lawyers for the federal government say they are weighing their options after a federal appeals court refused to reinstate President Donald Trump's ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations.

A government lawyer who spoke at a hearing in Virginia on Friday said that, following Thursday's ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Trump administration may or may not appeal.

"All options are being considered," Erez Reuveni said.

Reuveni spoke at a hearing at which the state of Virginia was challenging the ban.

The appeals court in San Francisco unanimously refused to restore Trump's refugee and immigration order on Thursday, calling it "a disgraceful decision."

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Lawyers for the state of Virginia are challenging President Donald Trump's executive order on immigration, arguing in federal court that its seven-nation travel ban violates the Constitution and is the result of "animus toward Muslims."

Michael Kelly, spokesman for Virginia's Democratic Attorney General Mark Herring, said Friday's hearing in federal court in a Washington suburb poses the most significant state challenge yet.

He says in a statement ahead of Friday's scheduled arguments in Alexandria, Virginia, that it "will be the most in-depth examination of the merits of the arguments against the ban."

Virginia's challenge comes after a federal appeals court in San Francisco refused Thursday to reinstate the ban on travelers from seven Muslim-majority nations.