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The High Court today refused to hear Skilling’s appeal of a lower court’s rejection of his theory that a flaw in his earlier trial meant the whole thing should have been thrown out.
“Normally, an improper or erroneous instruction results in a new trial.”
Geoffrey Corn is a professor at South Texas College of Law.
“They already told an appellate court to review the record and make a judgment that if this undermined our confidence in the conviction, that they grant a new trial. And the appellate court did it, and said, ‘We’ve done what you told us to do. He’s not entitled to relief.’ And so the Supreme Court says, “We’re done.'”
Skilling was convicted in 2006 of conspiracy, securities fraud, insider trading, and lying to auditors about his role in the downfall of the once-mighty energy giant. He’s currently serving a 24-year sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Englewood, Colorado.
Andrew Schneider. KUHF News.
