This was not the case with Clodius because he was the elder of the two. Ciceros arguments were very persuasive. He was a brilliant speaker who could turn everything the other guy did or said against him. It certainly convince the senate and the college. Clodius said Cicero had the advantage with the priests but would lose when the people got to decide his fate.
Cicero beats that argument down by calling the people fickle and the priests stable.
There were more arguments but we didnt discuss them. You can tell what his arguments were because Cicero repeats them before he tears them apart. Some of his arguments made sense but he was outgunned verbally by Cicero. The decision makers were the college of priests. The senate officially did not want to interfere with a religious case because it might anger the gods.