The US Supreme Court just sent Conrad Black’s case back to a lower court to be reheard to determine if part of his conviction should be overturned. The court found that the US government over-reached in its application of the Honest Services addendum to statute. It was argued before the court in December and March that prosecutors have applied the law too broadly and its application could lead to large sentences for minor mistakes.
Here is the Supreme Court’s decision:
When heard in the lower court, part of Black’s sentence could be overturned, however, he was also convicted on obstruction of justice.
Also gaining from today’s decision is ex-Enron chief Jeff Skilling who was partially convicted under the same application of the so-called honest services law.