NORTH CAROLINA -- A federal judge has refused to delay her order directing that North Carolina hold primaries for appellate court seats this year.

U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles rejected Wednesday the request of Republican legislators, who last fall decided to cancel primary elections for all judgeships in 2018.

The Democratic Party sued to restore those primaries. Eagles last week issued a preliminary injunction requiring primaries for the Court of Appeals and state Supreme Court, but allowed primaries for trial court seats to remain canceled while lawmakers debate redrawing judicial election districts.

Republicans already have filed an appeal at the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, but GOP state Rep. David Lewis said Wednesday he's not that concerned about the state having to hold appellate court primaries if it's required. Candidate filing starts next Monday.