PITTSBURGH — The Superior Court has rejected a last-minute appeal by the defense, making more likely that the public corruption trial of state Sen. Jane Orie will start Tuesday.

Jury selection is scheduled to start Tuesday for Orie, who’s accused of illegally using her state-funded staff to do campaign work for herself and her sister, Supreme Court Justice Joan Orie Melvin.

The senator’s attorney and the state Republican caucus have asked the state Supreme Court to delay the trial and consider reversing the trial judge’s ruling upholding the constitutionality of the state’s conflict of interest statute.

The Superior Court on Monday dismissed a similar appeal as moot, but it’s not clear when the Supreme Court may rule, which could potentially delay the trial.