Mayor Brandon Johnson’s handpicked school board was blocked from modifying Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez’s duties by a Cook County Judge on Tuesday, giving the embattled schools chief a victory as he battles with City Hall over the district’s future.

The power struggle over the leadership of Chicago Public Schools is expected to play out in court Tuesday morning. An attorney for CPS CEO Pedro Martinez on Monday sent a cease-and-desist letter to members of the Chicago School Board,

Chicago's Board of Education fired CPS CEO Pedro Martinez, creating uncertainty and sparking a legal challenge.

Martinez was at Luther Burbank Elementary, 2035 N. Mobile Ave., as the Special Olympics recognized the school for excellence in inclusive sports programming.

A leaked City Hall memo shows Mayor Johnson wanted Chicago Public Schools Chief Pedro Martinez out in September.

A Cook County judge ruled in favor of embattled Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez, stating that school board members cannot participate in negotiations with the Chicago Teachers Union unless invited by Martinez to do so.

Cook County Judge Joel Chupack Tuesday afternoon ruled that Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez has a legally protected interest to continue negotiating current teachers contract without interference from Mayor Brandon Johnson’s handpicked school board.