A court hearing culminates Monday over whether Gov. Patrick Morrisey is operating within his authority to deploy the West Virginia National Guard to patrol Washington, D.C.

Kanawha Circuit Judge Richard Lindsay heard about two hours of testimony Nov. 3, but delayed making a final ruling until another hearing that he set for 2 p.m. this Monday. The judge already heard about an hour of testimony Oct. 24.

On August 11, President Donald Trump declared a “crime emergency” for the District of Columbia, and five days later Gov. Patrick Morrisey deployed members of the West Virginia National Guard for support.

The governor’s original announcement noted that the mission would be funded at the federal level. That’s a Title 32 order, typically for natural disasters, where the National Guard remain

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