U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter Jr. of the Southern District of New York on Friday denied the temporary restraining order requested by a group of New York City public defender organizations who say the planned expansion of in-person state court proceedings discriminates against persons with disabilities.

The Legal Aid Society, Brooklyn Defender Services, the Bronx Defenders, New York County Defender Services, Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem and Queens Defenders filed suit against the Office of Court Administration and Chief Administrative Judge Lawrence Marks Tuesday, arguing that the return to courthouses presents health risks for clients and staff vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19.