An arbitrator ruled Friday that he has jurisdiction to decide whether the brawl-related suspensions given to Ron Artest and other NBA players can be appealed to someone other than commissioner David Stern.

Mediator Roger Kaplan set a hearing for next Wednesday, although the league was likely to ask a judge to intervene.

"Ultimately, one way or another, that issue is likely to get decided in federal court," NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik said. "Our view was (the arbitrator) should not even look at it, so we didn't submit anything."