The city of Colorado Springs’ new panhandling ban has been put on hold indefinitely by a preliminary injunction handed down Tuesday by a federal judge who said the measure violates the First Amendment.

The law has not been overturned, and will still go into effect Dec. 19, but the injunction prohibits the city from enforcing the measure unless it prevails at a future trial.

The trial will be scheduled by a magistrate, and won’t likely take place for at least two months, said City Attorney Chris Melcher.

Check with gazettedev.gazette.com for updates to this story.

Eric Verlo, Daniel Kontoff, and other protestors stand outside Colorado Springs City Hall in November before the City Council approved a ban on panhandling. Photo by JERILEE BENNETT/THE GAZETTE