NEW HAVEN, Conn. — A judge has ruled that a Connecticut man convicted of a deadly home invasion cannot bring up the cost of executions when jurors consider whether to impose the death penalty.

New Haven Superior Court Judge Jon Blue ruled Thursday against attorneys for Steven Hayes, who wanted to include the cost as a mitigating factor on their client’s behalf.

The judge said jurors have the task of “using reasoned moral judgment, not counting dollars and cents” in deciding life-or-death punishment.

Hayes was convicted last week