Bloodless Coup

When the WV Supreme Court Hears Cases Involving Massey Energy

So I am not an expert on the practices and ethics of judges recusing themselves. But this story on a major case before the West Virginia Supreme Court did make me wonder - Should judges hear cases involving close friends? If one man basically bankrolled your election campaign, should you judge cases involving him? And is the decision to recuse or not recuse affected by the fact that these justices serve on a 5 member court (so one on which one or two justices stepping aside could clearly affect the outcome)?