From Ballot Access News:

Caperton v A.T. Massey Coal Company, 08-22. The issue is whether the U.S. Constitution protects someone who is involved in a lawsuit, when that person’s opponent in the court case had made very large campaign donations to a judge who is hearing the case. The case arose in West Virginia, where the judge in question had refused to recuse himself even though the Massey Coal Company had made very large donations to his campaign for election to the West Virginia Supreme Court. This case had been considered by the U.S. Supreme Court at conferences on October 10, October 17, October 31, November 7, and November 14. The Court has thus given the appearance that it had a difficult time making up its mind whether it wants to hear this case. The case, when decided, may have major implications for Ralph Nader’s case over whether he must pay $80,000 to the people who challenged his Pennsylvania petition in 2004. There were close ties between some members of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and the people who challenged Nader’s petitions, but no member of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court recused himself or herself when Nader’s case was argued.