Editor,

Let’s try this again. Recently I sent a letter to you concerning my opinion on Justice Benjamin’s decision to withdraw from future Massey cases until the United States Supreme Court made its decision on when a judge should step aside from cases involving campaign supporters. Well according to a recent story in your paper the time has come for our highest court to hear this case.

Even though the so called legal experts have faulted Benjamin for failing to remove himself from an now $82.7 million dollar case, these same legal experts have their head in the sand if they believe that the U.S. Supreme Court is going to set down a new standard. The higher you go in the judicial branch the lazier the judges become. Not only that, these judges in this court have been caught asleep on the job. Some of them are really up in age. Besides how could you get any more specific than our own code of judicial conduct? This code says that anytime it appears improper a judge should remove himself!

Now when Old Spike and Blankenship were enjoying their Long Island Ice Teas over there on the French Rivera even an old country boy like myself thought, should this judge be sitting on a case that would save old Don over $67million dollars? Now it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to answer that question. Even our magistrates here in Logan County wouldn’t touch that with a ten foot pole!

In closing I will share this with you. I’ve had dealings with the U.S. District Court in Charleston, the Fourth Circuit Appeal Court in Virginia, and this very same U.S. Supreme Court min Washington, D.C. and I found that our very own magistrate court and circuit courts here in Logan County could teach these officials something when it comes to judicial ethics. What makes the difference? Our judicial officers are elected and accountable to the citizens who live in Logan County.

So, I will leave you with this thought. If the U.S. Supreme Court would rewrite an opinion on ethical standards concerning campaign cash, what will the whole system do, including congress and the President of the United States? It’s not going to happen!

Danny Wells

Chapmanville