Business

Judge denies AP request for juror info in ex-coal CEO trial

Posted December 09, 2015 6:00 am

The Associated Press

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - A judge has denied a motion by The Associated Press to release names and addresses of jurors from ex-Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship's trial.

U.S. District Judge Irene Berger in Beckley filed the order Wednesday. It says there's "no legal basis for a right to intervention in a criminal trial" regarding the juror request.

The information hasn't been disclosed, though AP and other media have requested it. AP's motion said there's no constitutionally valid reason to withhold it.

Blankenship was found guilty Dec. 3 of conspiring to willfully violate mine safety rules at West Virginia's Upper Big Branch Mine, which exploded in 2010 and killed 29 men. He faces up to one year in prison for the misdemeanor.

He was acquitted on felonies that could have netted him 30 years.

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