The federal judge overseeing the case of Philadelphia union leader John Dougherty and several co-defendants has ruled that attorneys from the same firm working for two separate defendants can continue their representation, despite the government’s concerns that a conflict of interest exists.

U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Schmehl of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ruled in a March 25 order that Brian McMonagle and Fortunato Perri of McMonagle Perri McHugh Mischak and Davis could continue representing city Councilman Bobby Henon and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 98 union political coordinator Marita Crawford. Neither lawyer responded to a request for comment.