AP sues for West Virginia Supreme Court justice e-mails
The Associated Press and the West Virginia Supreme Court argued Monday in Circuit Court over whether justices are required to make public their e-mails. The court argues that they don't have to provide private e-mails, even if sent by public employees on state-owned computers. The AP would like to see e-mails sent by Chief Justice Elliott "Spike" Maynard to Massey Energy Co. officials to see if there were any improper communications. Photos surfaced showing the justice and the company's chief executive together on the French Riviera at a time when several cases involving the company were pending in front of the Supreme Court. Maynard voted with the 3-2 majority to overturn a multimillion-dollar verdict against the company. The public wonders - trip to France in exchange for overturning verdict? Bribery? Corruption? If there isn't any of that, what does the court have to lose in being transparent? This is a great example of why government e-mails should be public, even if the officials claim they are "private." See story.