Exhibit 31.1

I, Peter T. Socha, certify
that:

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| | 1. | I have reviewed this
  annual report on Form 10-K/A, Amendment No. 1 of James River Coal
  Company;                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
| |    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
| | 2. | Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not
  contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
  fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances
  under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the
  period covered by this annual report;
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| | 3. | [intentionally omitted];                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
| |    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
| | 4. | The registrants other certifying officer and I are
  responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and
  procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e))
  for the registrant and have:                                                                                               
| |    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
| |    | a)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
| |    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
| |    | b)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
| |    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
| |    | c)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
| |    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
| | 5. | The registrants other certifying officer and I have
  disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over
  financial reporting, to the registrants auditors and the audit committee of
  registrants board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent
  functions):                             
| |    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
| |    | a)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
| |    |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
| |    | b)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Date:    May
2, 2005

| |                                                         | 
| | ------------------------------------------------------- | 
| | /s/ Peter T. Socha                                      | 
| |                                                         | 
| | Peter T. Socha 
  President and Chief Executive Officer

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