LOS ANGELES—A judge who in February ruled mostly in favor of the Association of Deputy District Attorneys for Los Angeles County in a petition brought against District Attorney George Gascon over a series of new directives he handed down after taking office last December put the case on hold May 25 while the county’s top prosecutor appeals. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant issued a preliminary injunction in favor of the union on Feb. 8, finding that Gascon cannot order his prosecutors to ignore laws that the union says protect the public, including three-strike allegations and sentencing enhancements. The case was back before the judge to set a date for a trial on whether the injunction should be made permanent. But after discussing Gascon’s appeal with the lawyers, Chalfant accepted the agreement made by lawyers on both sides that the case should not move forward until the appeal …