A Fairfax judge sided with Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell in his effort to oust a union executive from the region’s airports board.

Fairfax County Circuit Court Judge Lorraine Nordlund, in a ruling issued Friday, said McDonnell acted under the appropriate authority when he removed Dennis Martire from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, or MWAA, board last month, dealing a blow to Martire and authority lawyers, who argued McDonnell was crossing the legal line with the ouster.