Friend of the court

Damning paragraph (4.00 / 3)

Since his election as justice in 1996, Maynard has helped decide at least eight cases at the Supreme Court involving Massey or one of its subsidiaries, an AP review shows. Maynard voted in Massey's favor in all eight, dissenting from the court's ruling in four of those cases.

This is a very damning paragraph that could come to haunt Justice Maynard.

Here could be another daming paragraph. Article IV, Section 9 of the West Virginia Constitution:

Any officer of the state may be impeached for maladministration, corruption, incompetency, gross immorality, neglect of duty, or any high crime or misdemeanor.

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by: WV26003 @ Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 15:15:30 PM UTC

The Daily Mail... Maynard Should Recuse Himself (4.00 / 2)

In an editorial today in the Daily Mail...

Maynard should recuse himself

IT'S clear from photos provided in a court filing that state Supreme Court Justice Elliott "Spike" Maynard has been too close to one of the litigants, coal magnate Don Blankenship, to have heard a multimillion-dollar case that involved Blankenship's company.

It's the latest evidence that the court's rule for preventing conflicts of interest - a rule that had already become the subject of a federal suit - are inadequate and must be changed.

Maynard is the third justice asked to recuse himself in this politically charged case.

He should do so.

The editorial can be read by clicking here. 

 

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by: wvblueguy @ Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 16:35:43 PM UTC

I think there was something similar in the Huntington paper. (4.00 / 3)

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by: el cabrero @ Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 16:51:17 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The importance of this issue... (4.00 / 2)

I want to reiterate the importance of this particular case and issue. It could have ramifications on West Virginia politics and elections for years to come.  

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by: WV26003 @ Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 17:41:53 PM UTC

I agree. It's pretty huge, especially given what happened in 2004. (4.00 / 1)

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by: el cabrero @ Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 18:16:50 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Wheeling Newspaper Editor Misled Ohio Valley Readers (4.00 / 1)

Let me show you what Mike Myer, editor of the Wheeling Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register, printed in an April 20 editorial:

We think a look at the record - something Maynard's opponents have not pointed to - is instructive. Indeed, Maynard has been a friend of the Massey CEO for decades.

But according to the court's records, Maynard has cast his votes on the court against Massey and its subsidiaries in about half of the cases involving them. So, to Maynard's impartiality, independence and intelligence in conducting himself as a justice, add another quality: integrity.

Perhaps Mr. Myer didn't properly understand what the AP meant when it said:

Since his election as justice in 1996, Maynard has helped decide at least eight cases at the Supreme Court involving Massey or one of its subsidiaries, an AP review shows. Maynard voted in Massey's favor in all eight, dissenting from the court's ruling in four of those cases.

Join me in urging the Wheeling Intelligencer to either print a retraction or fire the editor for misleading the people of the Ohio Valley.

Mike Myer - (304) 233-0100 (ext. 305)
myer@news-register.net

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by: WV26003 @ Sat Apr 26, 2008 at 13:12:39 PM UTC