White House temporarily reinstate CNN correspondent’s press pass after court ruling

The White House have reinstated CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's press pass after a judge ruled in the network's favour on Friday. 

Acosta, CNN's chief White House correspondent, had been banned from the building after a heated exchange with US President Donald Trump at a press conference last week following the midterm results. 

"In response to the court, we will temporarily reinstate the reporter’s hard pass," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement. "We will also further develop rules and processes to ensure fair and orderly press conferences in the future."

Lawyers from CNN and the Trump administration battled it out for over two hours in court this week before judge Timothy Kelly granted the network's requests for Acosta to be allowed back into the White House.

CNN had requested a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction on Wednesday, but it took until Friday for a decision to be made when court was reconvened.

"We are gratified with this result and we look forward to a full resolution in the coming days," read a statement from CNN and Acosta.

"Our sincere thanks to all who have supported not just CNN, but a free, strong and independent American press."