Skilling Appeal Hearing Set

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit has scheduled arguments for April 2 in New Orleans in former Enron CEO Jeff Skilling’s appeal of his convictions. Skilling was convicted in May 2006 on 19 of 28 counts including conspiracy, securities fraud and insider trading; he is currently serving a 24 year prison sentence. Skilling’s appeal contends that the government’s “honest services fraud” theory used to convict him is fatally flawed; the Fifth Court has already vacated convictions in the Enron Nigerian Barge case which were based on the same prosecution strategy. Kristen Hays’ Houston Chronicle story is here.