Starcher responds to Massey bid to stop hearing

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) _ State Supreme Court Justice Larry Starcher says he should be allowed to hold a public hearing on a request that he remove himself from a case involving Massey Energy.

The Richmond-Va.-based Massey wants Starcher off its appeal of a $240 million coal contract dispute won by Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp.

In a letter sent Wednesday to his fellow justices, Starcher reminded them that Massey is suing the high court over its rules governing recusal requests. The 2006 federal lawsuit is on hold while the court appeals the denial of its dismissal motion.

Starcher also noted that it was Massey chief executive Don Blankenship who was photographed with Chief Justice Elliott "Spike" Maynard in Monaco while the company had cases pending before the court.