Judge orders open hearing on Duke Energy’s sealed motion to delay coal-ash sentencing

A federal judge has set an open hearing in Raleigh on Tuesday on Duke Energy’s sealed motion to delay its sentencing hearing in the criminal case involving last year's coal-ash spill on the Dan River. U.S. District Court Judge Malcolm Howell had initially set a closed hearing on the motion. But on Friday, he issued a new notice that says, “at the joint request of the parties, the hearing on pending motion(s) shall be in OPEN COURT.” But the motion itself remained sealed Friday afternoon. The…