CHARLESTON (AP) — Current and former state justices say the U.S. Supreme Court shouldn’t second guess a West Virginia colleague who stayed on a case involving a campaign supporter’s company.

The 10 jurists filed a ‘‘friend of the court’’ brief Wednesday supporting Massey Energy in the pending appeal.

Others were filed by attorneys general for seven states, a pair of law professors and the James Madison Center for Free Speech.

Chief Justice Brent Benjamin twice helped overturn a $50 million verdict won against Massey by Harman Mining.

Harman appealed, arguing Benjamin should have recused himself because Massey’s chief executive spent more than $3 million to help get him elected.

More than 45 parties filed briefs supporting Harman, including a group of 27 former justices.