Conrad Black loses bid to void guilty verdict

Conrad Black, convicted in 2007 on fraud and obstruction charges, lost a bid to void that verdict on grounds he was blocked from hiring the defence lawyers he wanted.

Black argued that the seizure by federal agents in 2005 of about $9 million in proceeds from the sale of a Manhattan apartment left him unable to retain criminal defence lawyers Brendan V. Sullivan and Gregory Craig, then both with Washington’s Williams & Connolly LLP. Craig is a former White House Counsel under President Barack Obama. Sullivan is known for defending U.S. Marine Corps Lt.-Col. Oliver North in the Iran-Contra scandal.

U.S. District Judge Amy J. St. Eve, who presided over the trial, on Tuesday rejected Black’s argument and faulted him for not pressing it earlier.

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