CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is co-leading an amicus brief with Indiana, asking the Michigan Court of Appeals to keep former President Donald Trump on the ballot for that state’s Presidential Primary and General Elections.

The coalition of 19 states argues the “Fourteenth Amendment entrusts Insurrection Clause questions to Congress — not state officials or state courts.”

“It’s up to the elected members of Congress to decide on matters like this, not the courts,” Attorney General Morrisey said.

“The integrity of our elections is at stake here, and lawsuits like this undermine the right of the citizens to choose who they want to represent them in every level of government and impedes a fair and free election process.”

The plaintiffs in the originating lawsuit are appealing a Michigan Court of Claims judge’s ruling in November, rejecting arguments that Trump’s role in the Jan. 6, 2021, incident at the U.S. Capitol makes him ineligible to run for public office.

The judge also ruled the former president followed Michigan’s election law in qualifying for the primary ballot so he cannot be removed.

“As I have said many times over, we are not going to allow Donald Trump or any eligible candidate to be tossed off the ballot,” Attorney General Morrisey said.

“Any eligible candidate has the right to be on the ballot unless legally disqualified, and we will defend the rights of voters and candidates to the fullest.”

Alabama, Alaska, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming joined the West Virginia- and Indiana-led brief.