Perhaps he thought he could remain fair and impartial despite the enormous campaign contributions he received from the AT Massey Coal Company. Perhaps he chose to hear the case despite the plaintiff's request for recusal because he felt he owed his campaign contributors a favor. Regardless of the reasoning behind Justice Benjamin's decision, his use of discretion in presiding over this case was poor and deeply entrenched unethical behavior, which the United States Supreme Court has ruled against. legitimately criticized