A Massachusetts judge has ruled in favor of the $2 billion state contract for a new Springfield courthouse — awarded to a firm co-owned by Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley’s husband — denying a request for an injunction filed by two of the project’s losing bidders.

Hampden Superior Court Judge David Hodge slammed the civil suit in a scathing memo outlining his ruling Monday.

Hodge highlighted a “myriad of difficulties” with the legal complaint while also echoing the same defense of the contract that Gov. Maura Healey and Attorney General Andrea Campbell have expressed: that it is the best deal for taxpayers — a claim disputed by losing bidders and fiscal watchdog organizations.

The Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAMM) awarded the lucrative contract to the partnership that includes CoJo Partners, called Liberty Junction, along with two other companies. CoJo Partners is co-owned by Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (MCCA) interim Executive Director John Barros and Pressley’s husband, Conan Harris.

The legal battle over the contract came amid a flurry of public backlash over what critics called an insider deal and questions about how such a lucrative contract could have been awarded to a company owned by two men with such notable political connections.

“There is no legal or logical support for the plaintiffs’ convoluted theory that DCAMM somehow violated G.L. c. 268A, § 7 (conflict of interest law), in the procurement process as a ‘result of’ what they call Barros’s ‘unwaivable conflict.’ On that ground alone, the plaintiffs have not shown that they have a likelihood of success on the merits on their claim …,” Judge Hodge wrote in his ruling.

Hodge explained that the two plaintiffs, New England used car magnate Jeb Balise and real estate investor Dinesh Patel, who filed the civil suit on July 9 under their respective business entities USPB JV, LLC and Tower Square, LLC, also did not adequately prove that their companies suffered irreparable harm by Liberty Junction being awarded the bid. He also added that DCAMM is not a state employee and is not subject to the Conflict of Interest Law.

Barros divested his interest from Liberty Junction in late July amid intense public criticism over the deal.

Balise and Patel had argued that Barros, in his role as interim leader of the MCCA, did not properly or honestly disclose his conflict of interest with state officials until a day after DCAMM awarded the contract to CoJo Partners. Barros denies the allegation.

“Even before he became a state employee, Barros sought the advice of SEC’s general counsel and of MCCA’s general counsel with regard to any potential conflict of interest arising out of his interest in Liberty Junction and its proposal for the courthouse project,” Hodge wrote. “The plaintiffs have offered no evidence that Barros ever acted in a manner that would cause a reasonable person to conclude that any person could improperly influence him or unduly enjoy Barros’s favor in his performance of duties as the Interim Executive Director of MCCA.”

DCAMM announced the contract was awarded to Liberty Junction in a July 2 press release — the last business day before the Independence Day weekend. The agency maintains it awarded the contract based on the recommendation of the Massachusetts Trial Court (TRC) in an effort to finish the project “as quickly as possible.”

Hodge highlighted DCAMM’s claim in his ruling, adding on the same defense of the deal given by Healey and Campbell in that it saves taxpayers approximately $300 million over the life of the contract. Hodge says the Liberty Junction deal saves the Commonwealth $600,000 per month compared to other proposals and that Liberty Junction’s total estimated cost of occupancy is $7.4 million lower than the next closest finalist.

“We are deeply appreciative of the Court’s decision in favor of Liberty Junction, which validates the decisions of the Massachusetts Trial Court and DCAMM. None of the claims in the baseless suit filed by the unsuccessful bidders are judged to be valid, Liberty Junction said in a statement reacting to the ruling. “What is most important to Liberty Junction now is what we know is most important to the people of Hampden County, namely that the too-long-awaited replacement of the County Courthouse gets underway.”

Meanwhile, Balise and Patel promise to continue fighting the deal to ensure Massachusetts taxpayers get the best contract possible.

“The people of Springfield deserve a full airing of the facts and circumstances surrounding this procurement, and they deserve a process that is fair, complete, and complies with the law. We remain fully committed to that goal,” said Balise and Patel. “Our confidence is complete, and our commitment to this community is unwavering, which is why we will continue to pursue every available legal avenue, completely and without hesitation.”

Pressley has defended Harris over the contract, while also distancing herself from the ins-and-outs of the deal, the procurement process, and her husband’s finances.

“I don’t have any unique insights on that. My husband and I met later in life. We got married later in our life. We keep our finances and everything completely separate,” Pressley said. “What I will say is I’ve always been proud of my husband and what he has done. He is the American dream. He’s overcome a great deal. He has made great contributions (to society),” Pressley told the Herald.

“He worked for Barack Obama. He served in a mayoral cabinet. He was a leader in nonprofit, in government, and in business,” she continued. “So I’m very proud of my husband. But I have no unique insights on this. We met later in life, our finances are separate, I don’t know anything.”

As Harris remains with CoJo Partners and on the contract, Ayanna Pressley’s net worth has exploded from an estimated $12,500 during her time as Boston City Councilor in 2018 to a whopping $8 million in 2024, according to Open Secrets. She receives a congressional salary of $174,000.

Judge Hodge was appointed by former Gov. Charlie Baker in 2019.