The San Francisco 49ers won an early battle in what could be a lengthy fight with a Santa Clara officials seeking to take funds from the team's stadium project.
A judge ruled Tuesday that local schools may not spend the $30 million dollars that an oversight board cut from the 49ers' plans, noting that the money had been earmarked by voters to help fund the stadium.
"This is a powerful argument, and one that may prevail," said Sacramento Superior Court Judge Lloyd Connelly, according to the San Jose Mercury News.
The oversight board, made up of officials from Santa Clara and Santa Clara County, seized the funds on June 22 with plans to spend the money on local schools. But the 49ers were granted a temporary restraining order to freeze the $30 million at Tuesday's hearing, which followed the team's filing of an emergency lawsuit last week.
"We remain optimistic that when the merits of the case are heard, the court will support the (voters') overwhelming decision," the 49ers said in a statement.
Connelly has set a July 27 hearing, at which he might rule on how the funds are to be spent.
The 49ers have said that the conflict will not affect their stadium's construction.