MORRISTOWN -- An upstate New York town judge says members of an Amish sect failed to prove how local building codes hinder their religion and their case will now go to trial.

St. Lawrence County assistant public defender Steven Ballan sought dismissal of building permit violation charges against eight Amish men on grounds of free religious exercise and in the "interest of justice."

After nearly eight months, Morristown Town Judge James Phillips ruled Friday against Ballan's motions. The judge wants the town and defense lawyers to now meet for a pretrial conference.

The Amish men do not deny the charges. They are part of the strict Swartzentruber sect and say requirements for smoke alarms and engineer-approved designs violate their religious tenet to oppose modernization.