DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan attorney general’s office is urging a judge to stay on the sideline in the controversy over U.S. Rep. John Conyers’ re-election campaign.

The Detroit Democrat has been barred from the August primary ballot because of problems with his petitions. He’s appealing to the secretary of state’s office and also asking a judge to throw out a law that sets rules for collecting signatures.

In a court filing Tuesday, state attorneys say an injunction would be improper while Conyers’ petitions are being examined. They say it’s also unfair to attack the law when others running for office have followed it.

A hearing in Detroit federal court is set for Wednesday. Conyers has been in Congress since 1965.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.