Chief Justice Elliott E. Maynard of the West Virginia Supreme Court disqualified himself on Friday from further participation in a case involving a powerful coal executive after photographs of two men meeting in Monte Carlo in 2006 were filed in court this week.

“I have no doubt in my own mind and firmly believe I have been and would be fair and impartial in this case,” Chief Justice Maynard wrote in a statement. “The mere appearance of impropriety, regardless of whether it is supported by fact, can compromise the public confidence in the courts. For that reason  and that reason alone  I will recuse myself.”

It is not clear, though, what follows from the disqualification. Chief Justice Maynard was in the 3-to-2 majority in a November decision that threw out a $50 million jury verdict against affiliates of the executive’s company, Massey Energy. With interest, the award is worth more than $70 million.

Chief Justice Maynard did not say that his disqualification was retroactive or that he was withdrawing his vote.