OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The Nebraska Supreme Court has refused to reinstate an attorney for a former doctor accused of killing four people with ties to an Omaha medical school.

On Wednesday, the court rejected an appeal by Anthony Garcia’s attorneys to let Allison Motta rejoin his defense team. A Douglas County judge removed Motta from the case after she made public comments about DNA evidence days before Garcia’s trial was to begin. The judge says the comments violated ethical rules and could have swayed a jury.

Garcia has pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder. Prosecutors say he was motivated by revenge over professional grudges, including his being fired from Creighton University’s pathology department.

Earlier this month Garcia told the judge in a letter that he didn’t want Motta reinstated.