Adapted from a blog by Katie Schlieper of Public Campaign

"Photos have surfaced showing Chief Justice Elliott "Spike" Maynard, who is up for re-election, in Monaco with Massey Energy Co. head Don Blankenship, in 2006. The photos were part of a motion filed by Hugh M. Caperton in an effort to get Maynard to disqualify himself from a case between Caperton and Massey.

"Ten of the photos were filed sealed, and show Maynard and Blankenship with female companions traveling with them, according to the Associated Press.

"Maynard was one of three justices who voted last year to reverse a 2002 jury decision in Boone County that awarded Caperton more than $76 million after finding Massey stole a coal contract from Caperton’s business, Harman Mining Corp., and ruined the company financially. The Supreme Court’s opinion was filed Nov. 20, 2007.

"…Blankenship’ $3.5 million in donations to help elect Justice Brent Benjamin to the Supreme Court in 2004. Benjamin’s win unseated Warren V. McGraw, who had typically gone against coal companies in litigation that came before the court.

"I think one of the key parts of our work is trying to eliminate special interest influence from our elections at all levels. When we see something that indicates perhaps contributions have helped someone gain influence or purchase access to a particular public official, it confirms to us the need for a different system that makes that less likely to happen."

The coalition supports a bill (that) only applies to the state Senate and House of Delegates. It does not address judicial elections.

"That isn’t part of our bill right now, but it could be," Warren said.