AUBURN, Maine (AP)   A judge says he hopes to weigh in this month on a lawsuit over Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s decision to hold up more than $1 million in public campaign funding.

Seven candidates in the Maine Clean Election program are suing because the governor has refused to release over $1 million in overdue public campaign funds to more than 120 legislative candidates and one gubernatorial hopeful.

Attorneys for LePage say only the governor, not a judge, has the discretion to sign a financial order. They contend that plaintiffs failed to prove that the hold on some public campaign funds will cause “irreparable harm” to their campaigns.

A judge heard arguments on the lawsuit seeking the release of the money Tuesday. The ethics commission plans to hear from candidates on Wednesday.