Massey Coal - Best justice money can buy?

From today's L.A. Times, in an article by David Savage

.. "The (Supreme) Court also said Friday that it would hear a West Virginia case that has highlighted the role of big money in state high court justice races.

In 2004, the A. T. Massey Coal Co. faced a $50-million verdict in a contract dispute with another coal firm. That year, its president and chief executive gave $3 million to candidate Brent Benjamin's campaign for a seat on the state Supreme Court. Benjamin won the seat; 60% of his funding came from the Massey executive.

Shortly afterward, the West Virginia Supreme Court agreed to hear Massey's appeal in the contract dispute. Despite pleas that he withdraw, Justice Benjamin cast the deciding vote in a 3-2 ruling that overturned the verdict.

Washington lawyer Ted Olson appealed the case on behalf of Harman Mining Corp., the other coal company.

He said Benjamin's refusal to step aside created "an unacceptable appearance of bias." He urged the justices to rule that it violated the Constitution's guarantee of due process of law to permit a judge to accept a huge contribution from a donor and then rule on his case.

Caperton vs. A. T. Massey Coal Co. will be heard in February.

You can read the rest of this article Here.
(it's part of the way through, after discussion of the Hilary Clinton movie).