The Coal Industry Owns The Courts (VIDEO)

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In early February 2014, Duke Energy reported that a coal ash storage site along the Dan River had crumbled, releasing more than 39,000 tons of toxic coal ash into the waterway. This was not the first time that Duke had been responsible for a massive coal ash spill, and most likely not theย last.

In public, the company claimed that it is making all the necessary moves to clean up the mess and prevent future disasters. But behind closed doors, the company was hard at work making sure that its negligence would never hinder its profits. Duke Energy had been paying off the right people to prevent any meaningful form ofย punishment.

The post-Citizens United world has led to an enormous increase in the amount of money flowing to judicial elections, which was previously an area that very few corporations gave a second look. But with a green light to throw cash around now, theyโ€™ve realized that owning the Judicial Branch of American government is just as lucrative as owning aย politician.

During the 2014 midterm elections, the state of North Carolina โ€” Duke Energyโ€™s base of operations โ€” became a hotbed for judicial campaign spending. In total, an unprecedented $800,000 was spent on judicial elections by a group called Justice For All NC, with more than $300,000 of that total coming solely from Dukeย Energy.

A recent report by the Center for American Progress (CAP) shows that elected judges are far more likely to vote in favor of corporations (those who funded their elections) than non-elected judges, explaining Duke Energyโ€™s desire to pump hundreds of thousands of dollars into thisย campaign.

For Duke, it paid off. For residents that have been harmed by Dukeโ€™s negligence, not soย much.

CAP has put together a short film explaining the plight of local residents who have been poisoned by Duke Energy, particularly the victims of last yearโ€™s Dan River coal ash spill. The video is below, or you can find it on YouTube here.

The North Carolina judicial elections, as well as the ongoing litigation against Duke Energy will serve as a litmus test for other states. Should Duke Energy continue to emerge the victor in legal battles, expect to see countless other corporations following in itsย footsteps.

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Farron Cousins is the executive editor of The Trial Lawyer magazine, and his articles have appeared on The Huffington Post, Alternet, and The Progressive Magazine. He has worked for the Ring of Fire radio program with hosts Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Mike Papantonio, and Sam Seder since August 2004, and is currently the co-host and producer of the program. He also currently serves as the co-host of Ring of Fire on Free Speech TV, a daily program airing nightly at 8:30pm eastern. Farron received his bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of West Florida in 2005 and became a member of American MENSA in 2009.ย  Follow him on Twitterย @farronbalanced.

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