BlackBerry Maker, yesterday asked U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts to block a ruling that could impose an injunction against the operation of the company’s BlackBerry email service and the Sale of BlackBerry devices in the United States.

The Canadian company is asking for a stay of a lower court ruling pending a request for review of the case by the U.S. Supreme Court. An appeals court upheld part of a patent- infringement finding against Research In Motion. NTP Inc., the patent owner, wants to stop Research In Motion from providing the service in the U.S.

The request was made of newly appointed Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts because he oversees such emergency requests on cases from the U.S. Court of Appeals. Chief Justice Roberts could refer the matter to the full Supreme Court.