Retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre saw a split decision in the Mississippi Supreme Court on Thursday as justices granted one appeal and dismissed another in his bid to reinstate his lead counsel in a high-profile civil case tied to the state’s largest welfare fraud scandal, WLBT reports.

Favre is among several defendants accused of misusing millions of dollars intended for Mississippi’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The scandal, which has drawn national attention, involves allegations that funds were diverted to projects and individuals with no connection to aiding low-income families. Favre has denied wrongdoing.

In a 5-4 decision, the #Mississippi Supreme Court granted Favre’s appeal to reinstate his lead attorney, #EricHerschmann, who was disqualified by a lower court due to a conflict-of-interest claim. The court ruled there was insufficient evidence to justify Herschmann’s removal from the case.

However, the court dismissed a separate appeal by Favre seeking to block civil discovery requests filed by the state. The justices ruled unanimously that the discovery process could proceed, allowing the state to subpoena documents and depose witnesses in its effort to trace the misused funds.

Mississippi’s Department of Human Services (MDHS), which filed the lawsuit to recover $77 million in misallocated welfare funds, welcomed the court’s decision to allow discovery to move forward.