The judge in the Microsoft antitrust case yesterday sent the company's appeal directly to the Supreme Court for consideration, acting under a special law that permits him to bypass an intermediate court.

US District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson, in a surprising additional order, also granted Microsoft a request to stay, or freeze, stringent conduct remedies until a higher court acts. The remedies, or restrictions on the software giant's business practices, had been set to take effect on September 5th.

The Supreme Court will hear the case, unless five justices vote to send it back to the US Court of Appeals.