SAN DIEGO (AP) — A federal judge says he is inclined to reject a request by the American Civil Liberties Union asking that a veterans' group be left out of discussions on how to modify a war memorial cross on federal land.

U.S. District Court Judge Larry Burns said during a hearing Friday that he will issue his ruling soon.

He says he feels the Mount Soledad Memorial Association should continue to intervene as a party in the case.

The association maintains the cross, which a federal court deemed to be an unconstitutional mixing of government and religion.

Lawyer Jeff Mateer for the Mount Soledad Memorial Association says the veterans' group erected the 29-foot cross in 1954 on a San Diego mountain top and has contractual rights to decide the future of the memorial.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.