The federal judge overseeing multidistrict litigation over whether Monsanto’s Roundup weed killer causes cancer is allowing a law firm that won a landmark California state court verdict to remain on the plaintiffs leadership team in the consolidated federal cases.

Over objections from Monsanto’s lawyer, U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria of the Northern District of California said at a hearing Thursday that he would allow lawyers from Baum Hedlund Aristei Goldman to remain on the plaintiffs steering committee. The firm and partner R. Brent Wisner had offered to step aside in the wake of a controversy surrounding publication of documents that Monsanto claimed were subject to a protective order in the case.