OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A judge has denied a request to reinstate a Chicago attorney to help defend a former doctor accused of killing four people with ties to an Omaha medical school.

On Monday, Douglas County District Judge Gary Randall rejected a third request to reinstate Alison Motta to the defense team of Anthony Garcia.

The ruling comes after Randall earlier this month deemed that Motta will not be allowed to speak at trial or sit at the defense table, although she can still assist Garcia’s defense. The judge said Motta made public comments days before Garcia’s trial was to begin that violated ethical rules and could have swayed a jury.

The motion to reinstate Motta suggested her team was prepared to appeal the judge’s decision before the Nebraska Supreme Court.