A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania against the Port Authority of Allegheny County can move forward.

The organization filed suit in August, claiming that the transit group would not allow it and the Pittsburgh League of Young Voters to run bus advertisements aimed at convicted felons. The advertisements were to inform convicted state felons that their voting rights were restored immediately upon their release from prison.

The Port Authority denied the request, claiming it doesn't run noncommercial ads.

The two defendants in the lawsuit, the Port Authority and Anthony J. Hickton, the director of sales, filed motions to dismiss the lawsuit, claiming that the plaintiffs lacked standing to bring the complaint.

U.S. District Judge Terrence F. McVerry refused that argument. He ordered the defendants to file their response to the amended lawsuit by April 13.