Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal of Jeff Skilling's conviction for fraud charges.

The former Enron CEO's case has been of interest in Oregon, since the company used to own the state's largest utility. April Baer reports.

Skilling's lawyers maintain it was impossible for him to get a fair trial in Houston, Enron's home base.

Professor Lucas Powe Jr. of  the University of Texas at Austin's law school says Texans were pained by Enron's thousands of job losses, and millions in lost wealth.

Lucas Powe Jr.: "I think they wanted to kill everybody. I have no doubt whatsoever there was an intense bias against the management of Enron."

But in accepting the case, Powe says the high court is re-opening an area of the law that's been dormant for several decades.

The court will also decide whether a charge for violating the so-called honest service statute, should stick.

Skilling's attorneys maintain the premise for the charges has been misinterpreted.

The court is hearing two other cases this term on the honest service statute.