Case May Define When a Judge Must Recuse Self

[MountainLaurel]

WV making the national news today . . .

Hugh Caperton was born into the coal business, but for more than a decade he has spent more time in a courthouse than in a mine. The complex, intrigue-filled legal tale he will present to the Supreme Court this week was literally enough to spawn a suspense novel, but it boils down to this:

Caperton and his little coal company sued a huge coal company on claims that it unlawfully drove him out of business, and a jury agreed, awarding him $50 million.

That company's chief executive vowed an appeal to the West Virginia Supreme Court -- but first, he spent an unprecedented $3 million to persuade voters to get rid of a justice he didn't like and elect one he did.

That justice provided the decisive vote in overturning Caperton's multimillion-dollar award.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/01/AR2009030102265.html?hpid=topnews

[MadAnne]

1. Have you seen Wayne Ewing's film

"The Last Campaign"?

[slater89]

2. A Judge Should Know When to Recuse Himself

A Judge should know when to recuse himself and if not if an issue arises and it is declared he should have then he should be removed from the bench.