Date Set for Blankenship’s Appeal

Oral arguments are set in federal court for October in former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship’s appeal of his conviction. Oral arguments will be Oct. 26. Blankenship reported to a California prison May 12 to begin serving a one-year sentence for conspiring to willfully violate mine safety standards at West Virginia’s Upper Big Branch coal mine. In briefs filed earlier this year, Blankenship’s attorneys complained that the jury pool in Charleston was biased against him, the prosecution was politically motivated and the trial controlled by rulings unfair to the defense.