Federal appeals court judges do not seem eager to embrace the arguments of lawyers seeking a new trial for former New York Senate leader Dean Skelos and his son.
A three-judge panel Thursday heard attorney Alexandra Shapiro argue on the elder Skelos's behalf that the convictions of Skelos and his son Adam should be vacated. She said that would be consistent with a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling reversing the conviction of a former Virginia governor.
However, the government disagrees.
Circuit Judge Reena Raggi of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals challenged Shapiro repeatedly, saying Shapiro was being "a little selective in the facts.''
The senior Skelos was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay more than $800,000 in restitution and fines after prosecutors said he strong-armed three companies into giving his son $300,000.
