An Oakland County Circuit Court judge told the Oakland University administration and the faculty union to continue bargaining for the new faculty contract “through the evening and all night if necessary” at around noon today.

“If the state mediator didn’t think there was some hope, I would not be doing this,” said judge Edward Sosnick.

But if the two parties aren’t able to reach an agreement by 10 a.m. Thursday, the judge said he will hold a hearing then and make a final ruling on whether OU’s faculty have to call of the strike and go back to work now.

OU filed a motion for temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction Tuesday afternoon, and the judge scheduled a hearing today at 10 a.m.

But instead of holding a formal hearing, the judge had both parties, their legal counsel, and the state mediator in his chamber try to reach an agreement for a couple hours.