BAGHDAD (AP) — An Iraqi judicial panel rejected on Tuesday a decision to remove one of the country’s top judges from his post because of alleged ties to Saddam Hussein’s now-dissolved Baath party, an official said.

Last week, Iraq’s Justice and Accountability Committee tasked with purging government ranks of officials with ties to Saddam decided to remove judge Medhat al-Mahmoud, who heads the Supreme Federal Court, for his alleged role as an adviser to the late dictator while holding senior judicial posts.