TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — A federal appeals court has agreed to give New Jersey Republicans another chance as they try to keep nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis off the ballot for a state Senate seat.

The entire U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals says it will hear the case Tuesday in Philadelphia.

A three-judge panel from the court last week agreed to put the Democrat back on the ballot in the November election to represent New Jersey’s 8th Legislative District.

But Republicans soon appealed.

At issue is whether Lewis meets a four-year residency requirement and whether the requirement is constitutional.

Lewis grew up in southern Jersey but spent most of his adult life in California. He bought homes in New Jersey in 2005 and 2007, but continued to vote in California through 2009.

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.