A federal judge is ordering a jury pool of 300 southern West Virginians in the criminal case against former Massey Energy CEO Don Blankenship.
In southern West Virginia federal court Thursday, Judge Irene Berger ordered a random selection of 300 prospective jurors from the Charleston and Huntington divisions.
Prospective jurors will have to complete a questionnaire by Aug. 31.
Blankenship’s trial is scheduled to start Oct. 1 in Charleston. He faces charges that he conspired to violate mine safety standards at the Upper Big Branch mine in West Virginia. An explosion at the mine in 2010 killed 29 men.