FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) – Prosecutors accusing dozens of Navajo Nation officials of fraud have asked a judge to give them time to try to negotiate settlements with the defendants.

Candid discussions with the 85 defendants might bring the cases to an end, the Rothstein Law Firm wrote in documents sent Friday to a Window Rock court.

A civil complaint alleges that the current and former Navajo officials defrauded the tribal government in the use or management of $36 million in discretionary funds.

“We have a good faith belief based on the work we have completed on this matter, including conversations with defendants, that a priority should be placed on attempting to negotiate resolution of some or all of the pending claims,” prosecutors wrote.

An attorney for two dozen defendants maintained his clients’ innocence and said Friday they would be amendable to talks with prosecutors to tell them that.

“If they think that my clients are going to roll over and just pay them a bunch of money, no I don’t see that happening,” said defense attorney David Jordan. “If the meetings are more of the nature (of) ‘we want to interview you to see if you’ve done anything wrong,’ I think my clients might take him up on that.”

Prosecutors requested a 90-day case management order that sets deadlines for motions to dismiss, responses to those, discovery and status updates, to which Jordan said he wouldn’t object. The Window Rock District Court received the request Friday and a separate one to further extend a stay on the case so that the order could be considered.

Judicial spokeswoman Karen Francis said the latter request was granted late Friday, putting the case on hold until Feb. 13.

Meanwhile, Judge Carol Perry has asked defense attorneys to declare any conflicts of interest. Jordan represents the most defendants, while another attorney has 14 defendants as clients. Perry said the court needs to be informed by Feb. 3 of any third-party payments, representation of clients in related matters, use of information that could disadvantage the tribe or other relevant matters.

Parties in the case have said the allegations could take years to resolve, with some defendants having filed motions to dismiss claims against them based on sovereign, legislative or executive immunity. Among those named as defendants are a former tribal president, the current and former attorney general, and the tribe’s controller.

The civil charges wouldn’t lead to any jail time but could mean fines for anyone proved to have committed wrongdoing and a temporary ban on seeking elected office.

Prosecutors said their request is meant to speed up the case, not delay it, though they said interviewing the 85 defendants will be a daunting task.

“Many of the Navajo Nation’s key government officials are operating under a cloud of serious accusations of impropriety,” prosecutors wrote. “If those accusations are justified, those individuals should be held accountable. If those accusations are not justified, those individuals and the Navajo Nation are entitled to a clean bill of health.”

The civil lawsuit replaced some criminal charges in the investigation of discretionary spending that were unresolved.