LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A judge has struck down a lawsuit alleging that a ballot question to reinstate capital punishment in Nebraska is unfairly slanted in favor of death penalty supporters.

Lancaster County District Court Judge Lori Maret rejected arguments by death penalty opponents in a ruling issued Tuesday.

The ballot language submitted by Attorney General Doug Peterson informs voters that retaining the repeal law would eliminate capital punishment and change the “maximum” penalty for first-degree murder to life in prison.

Death penalty opponents contend the word “maximum” is misleading because it incorrectly implies that first-degree murder convicts could face a lesser sentence than life in prison.

Maret noted in the ruling that the ballot wording is consistent with the language lawmakers used in the legislation that abolished capital punishment.