Black loses appeal on fraud, obstruction convictions

Conrad Black has lost an appeal of his remaining convictions for fraud and obstruction of justice. A federal appeal court in Chicago has turned down Lord Black’s request for a re-hearing of an appeal he brought to a three-judge panel of the court in September. That panel reversed two fraud convictions, but upheld one fraud and one obstruction of justice conviction. Lord Black's lawyer, Miguel Estrada, asked a full panel of the appeal court to review the judges’ ruling. Mr. Estrada argued the judges erred and failed to properly apply a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that re-wrote a key section of the fraud statute. But today the appeal court dismissed the application. The court did not release reasons for its decision. Lord Black said he will file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court.