FTA:
“The court denied without comment special counsel Jack Smith’s request asking the justices to circumvent the normal appeals court process and quickly decide the question, which looms large in Trump’s prosecution in Washington over allegations of election interference.”
Yes, that’s when they begin to hear oral arguments. The DC Circuit Court of Appeals is notoriously slow with their rulings. They took a year to rule that Trump could be sued for damages related to Jan 6. Not that he was liable, mind you, but that he wasn’t immune from civil suit.
How long it will take the court to rule is an unknown, but the pace at which they are moving the case forward to a hearing indicates they intend to move quickly on ruling as well.
Judge Chutkan issued the stay, which is essentially automatic and procedural. Once the appeals court rules on the case, the stay is lifted.