Names of Blankenship Jurors Won’t Be Released

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 says there’s “no legal basis for a right to intervention in a criminal trial” regarding the juror request. 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.