After defense attorneys in the college admission cases accused Boston prosecutors of “judge-shopping,” the chief federal judge in Massachusetts on Thursday rejected the defense attorneys’ request to intervene.

Defense lawyers for parents, of whom 16 were indicted Tuesday on charges of money laundering and fraud conspiracy, told U.S. District Chief Judge Patti Saris earlier this week that the U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts was trying to get around court rules. Andrew Lelling, the U.S. attorney in Boston, denied the accusation and said it was the defense that sought to bend the rules for its benefit.

Judge Nathaniel Gorton Judge Nathaniel Gorton.