A jury can consider bribery charges against Gulf Coast attorney Paul Minor and two former judges in the group’s second trial, U.S. District Judge Henry T. Wingate ruled Monday.

Last week, after the government concluded its case, Minor’s attorney, Brad Pigott, and attorneys for former Circuit Judge John Whitfield and former Chancellor Wes Teel argued that the bribery allegations had not been proven by the government.

“They don’t reach second or third base because they don’t even get to first base,” Pigott said.

Wingate said Monday that he was not persuaded by the defense’s argument.

Minor is on trial for allegedly bribing Whitfield and Teel. Teel and Whitfield are being tried alongside Minor for allegedly taking the bribes. All three have pleaded innocent.