Keep that trial right here

The Skilling/Lay trial will stay right here in Houston.

As expected, U.S. District Judge Sim Lake ordered late Monday that the request from ex-Enron chairman Ken Lay and ex-CEO Jeff Skilling to move the case be denied.

The pair face charges of conspiracy and fraud.

Lake said in this week's order that in 2005 he set out the law regarding moving trials and why he thought there were not sufficient grounds to undergo the cost of moving this case when so many people around the country also knew a lot about Enron.

[...]

Lake sent out 400 questionnaires to potential jurors asking what they knew about the case, how they felt about Enron and the defendants and what contact they've had with legal and financial matters.

Upon receiving responses from the vast majority of the 400, the judge then dropped some potential jurors for hardship. Then the lawyers agreed to drop another 109 people who appeared too biased. The lawyers also agreed to drop additional possible jurors for more hardship problems -- like being in college or taking care of a child or sick relative.

About 150 people were left in the pool after all the cutting and they been called to appear in court Monday.

The defendants have acknowledged that about 70 of those have said nothing that could even suggest any bias or feelings about Enron. But the defendants worry there could be hidden bias.

I never doubted this trial could be held here. Let's get it on already.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on January 24, 2006 to Enronarama | TrackBack