A Texas judge refused to throw out decade-old charges against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, setting the stage for a trial in the spring.

Harris County District Court Judge Andrea Beall rejected Paxton’s appeal that his right to a speedy trial had been violated, the Texas Tribune reported. Paxton is now set for an April 15 court date, barring unforeseen complications.

If convicted, Paxton could face up to 99 years in prison. The trial stems from accusations from investors that he defrauded them by encouraging them to invest in a company without disclosing that he was being paid by them.

The trial has been delayed for years largely due to procedural problems, with disputes over whether to hold the trial in Houston or Dallas.

Despite the ruling against him, Paxton’s attorneys gave off a veneer of confidence.

“He’s ready for trial. … This thing has been pending for eight years. [The special prosecutors] want to dance. Put on your shoes. It’s time to go. Let’s dance,” Dan Cogdell, one of Paxton’s attorneys, said after the ruling.

Cogdell used other colorful language to complain about how the trial had been dragged out.

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“That’s what this food fight has been all about,” he said. “This case has been pending longer than three out of four of my marriages lasted.”

Paxton, a staunch Republican and Trump ally, has come under intense legal scrutiny over the past year over corruption allegations. He narrowly beat an impeachment from the Republican-dominated state legislature last year.