Method and system for arbitrating between plural arbitration requests is provided. The system includes a plurality of first stage arbiters that receive plural arbitration requests and a signal that indicates a previously granted request, wherein the first stage arbiters assert a high priority request signal if a high priority request is pending and a low priority request signal is asserted, if a low priority request is pending; a second stage arbiter that arbitrates between high priority requests, when high priority requests are pending; wherein if a high priority request is not pending, then a low priority request is granted; and a data handler module that operates in parallel with the second stage arbiter to immediately move data associated with a request that is granted at any given time.