LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A federal judge has denied a request to temporarily block limits on leafleting and other activities outside Lincoln’s Pinnacle Bank Arena.

Larry Ball was arrested last year and again in March for handing out religious leaflets outside the arena. Days after his last arrest, Ball filed a civil rights lawsuit against the city, the mayor, police chief and arena operator.

Ball contends the area where activity is restricted is a public area, violating free speech liberties. The city says the area is quasi-public and that it has the right to limit protests and leafleting on it.

Ball had asked the judge to block the city from enforcing its policy while the lawsuit is pending. The judge rejected that Wednesday, saying Ball has not shown his lawsuit is likely to succeed.