Skilling v. United States

Holding: (1) Former Enron C.E.O. Jeffrey Skilling had a fair trial before an impartial jury despite publicity about his case before trial and community prejudice; and (2) the federal law that makes it a crime to deprive people of “honest services” covers only bribery and kickback schemes.

Judgment: Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded, 9-0, in an opinion by Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on June 24, 2010. Justice Sotomayor filed a partial dissent, joined by Justice Stevens and Breyer. Justice Sotomayor also concurred in part.

Briefs and Documents

Merits Briefs

• Brief for Petitioner Jeffrey Skilling
• Brief for Respondent United States of America
• Reply Brief for Petitioner Jeffrey K. Skilling

Amicus Briefs

• Brief for the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for Thomas Rybicki in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for the Texas Criminal Defense Lawyers Association and the Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association in Support of Petitioner
• Brief for ABC, Inc., Advance Publications, Inc., the Associated Press, Bloomberg L.P., Cable News Network LP, LLLP, California Newspaper Publishers Association, Dow Jones & Company, Inc., First Amendment Coalition, Gannett Co., Inc., The Hearst Corporation, The McClatchy Co., Media Law Resource Center, Inc., Medianews Group, Inc., The New York Times Co., Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, The Tribune Company, and the Washington Post in Support of Respondent
• Brief for National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in Support of Petitioner and Urging Reversal
• Brief for the Pacific Legal Foundation and the CATO Institute in Support of Neither Party

Certiorari-stage documents

• Opinion below (5th Circuit)
• Petition for certiorari
• Brief in opposition
• Amicus brief of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
• Petitioner's reply