Judge turns down Conrad Black's bid for bail

U.S. District Court Judge Amy St. Eve, who preceded over the original trial in Chicago, has turned down Black's motion for bail and has cancelled a related hearing that was scheduled for July 24.

The judge's decision was released on Tuesday, just over three weeks after Black filed an application for his release during his appeal.

In her four-page ruling the judge said Black has "failed to establish that a ruling in his favour on the issues before the Supreme Court is likely to result in reversal of his obstruction of justice conviction or a shorter sentence than the total of time defendant already has served in prison plus the anticipated time it will take the Supreme Court to resolve the merits of his case."

A hearing into the matter, scheduled for next week, has been cancelled.

The 64-year-old was convicted of three counts of fraud and one count of obstruction of justice in July 2007. The following December, he was sentenced to serve 78 months in a federal prison.

In May, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review his case. However, it is not expected to return a decision until June 2010.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons website, Black is currently serving his time at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex in Ocala, Florida.

With files from The Canadian Press

Comments are now closed for this story

Maria-Toronto
said
0 0

I do beleive that people who commit crimes should serve time but I do think that they are being harsh on him.

Lane
said
0 0

Isn't it nice to read a bit of good news every once in a while.

bill from edmonton
said
0 0

I don't believe this. If this guy was convicted of beating his wife and kids, the judge would have him out on bail in a heartbeat. What gives? If you want to hurt people who are guilty of fraud, take all their money away, don't clog the prisons with people like this who are not violent. Seems to me that the bleeding hearts are on the wrong side of this one! Sure he took money (maybe), but to lock him up is crazy, meanwhile they are letting murderers out because the prisons are full!

Prof. Pye Chartt
said
0 0

Canadians will let their politicians rob them silly with wacky spending schemes supported by punitive taxation at every level...but when some vocal conservative gets clipped on a relatively minor business matter, the crazy crowd (that has lost nothing in the crime) lights its torches, and begins chanting and spitting saliva.

Hilarious.

Black was convicted of fraud and obstruction of justice, folks, and has been granted an appeal of the latter by the Supreme Court of the United States, the highest judicial body in America; a court that doesn't automatically agree to hear appeals unless there is perceived merit to the argument before it.

Take a pill, and a breath.

It would be nice to see my fellow Canucks get similarly fired up the next time our government flushes some more of OUR money down the toilet, and we all suffer a direct loss of our heard-earned tax dollars. However, this requires that the electorate stay awake most of the time, and I�m uncertain as to whether this is possible in this country.

Perhaps we need to elect more cartoon characters, with the title of �Lord.�

------------------------

@ CTV: Nice job baiting all the fish.

jfchalme
said
0 0

If it were Canada he would have never been charged with a crime let alone served time in jail. At least the US takes white collar crime seriously.

Doug BC
said
0 0

I tend to side with the judge on this one.BUT,to me,it looks like he's being punished more than the others involved in this crime.His American partners are either out,getting out in he very near future,or received no jail time at all.
On the suface,at least,it doesn' look like "equal justice" for all.

George
said
0 0

the law is the law, justice has to be tough. don't be lenient, in this day, and age too many lenient things have happened, and things are too liberal. they should not give him the appeal.

Don
said
0 0

Yeah, not a lot of sympathy for his Lordship. I don't see his jail time being all that punitive either. Saying the US "got it right" by keeping Black in jail is misleading. Getting it right would be putting him in a penitentiary, not a country club.

JFJ
said
0 0

This is not Enron or the Madoff case. Far from it.

I think the fact the Supreme Court is willing to hear the appeal speaks volumes.

Lord Black did a great deal for this country.

I'm grateful as a Canadian for those positive contributions.

chatty
said
0 0

I can believe that this criminal is only going to be in jail for 78 months! Should have been life in prison.

Ben
said
0 0

First of all, who cares? I didn't care about Conrad Black before and I don't now. The only reason we're making a deal out of this is because he's got money.

With that I am a little bothered by the responses here. Society loves to see the "high and mighty" fall, and I wonder if that attitude is driving these comments more than justice?

Andrew
said
0 0

If I were offered an important title in the U.K. in exchange for dumping Canada my answer would be "no".
Canadians who require a connection to the British Empire are not part of what I call "real Canada" and they are not real Canadians because they do not have a proper democratic vision for this country.
I am willing to defend the right democratic vision for Canada if that is what it comes to!
You monarchists out there, I don't like you! Do you get it? I'm not kidding around!

Having said all that I am still not convinced that the traitor Conrad Black should be in jail for what he was convicted of.

David Chan
said
0 0

Excellent!

zoltan28
said
0 0

What if his name had been Libby Scooter--pardoned for the same obstruction of justice--just shows the world the true depth of American justice and why they are the most reviled humans on earth

Paul Kneeshaw
said
0 0

Thank God for the honest decision by the judge to deny "BAIL".

This guy is another white collar, (Rich at that), crook and his actions have brought him his reward.

Its only to bad he is in a Luxury Prison and not doing hard time in Attica.

These leeches who steal on the inside, and rob the innocent, are the worst thieves of all ~ let him pay the price of now and when he gets out as well.

Rick in NB
said
0 0

@CTV,
Don't you get it,nobody cares.

K
said
0 0

suck it up butter cup, you did the crime now do the time.

:>)
said
0 0

oh dude, serve your time, in the end you could be making this worse for yourself. you were found GUILTY.

J from SK
said
0 0

Can't blame him for trying to appeal... just for thinking he'd get away with it. Looks like nothing's changed on that front.

Patrick in Brandon
said
0 0

...and justice for all!!!

James
said
0 0

Could not have happened to a nastier crook.

Mike Hammer
said
0 0

Should we be surprised that Black was denied bail?
Absolutely not!
Black has made a career of using his ill gotten wealth to work the system.
There is no doubt as to his guilt. The only question is of what.
As he continues to write in a national daily newspaper on subjects ranging from politics to internationl affairs, from his cubicle in a US federal prison
where he cannot fleece more unsuspecting shareholders, olet's hope he stays right there.
He should not be rewarded with freedom.

Brian in Halifax
said
0 0

Federal Complex....I'm sure he's not too uncomfortable. Cable tv, maid service and probably lots of sun light. Same place Pete Rose probably attended. No rent, taxes or worries, why would he want to leave.

Observer
said
0 0

It is an amusing and bitter irony that Conrad Black, the most pompous and self serving of Canadians in recent memory, finds himself in such ignoble circumstances and surroundings.

One has only to review the writings of his Lordship to reveal a man of stunning arrogance, and a pathological sense of self entitlement at the expense of all others.

I can say with conviction that I for one, firmly believe that Black has earned his place in prison. It is my fervent hope that "Connie," as I am certain he is known as by his fellow inmates, learns at last to understand the greater role of the individual as citizen, and the contingent responsibilities to fellow man and not to ourselves.

Allan
said
0 0

I mean, look at his face. And ask yourself: "Do I trust this guy?"
If he stole money from the company - let him take his time.

Sean
said
0 0

I want to hear more about how Mr. Black has first hand witnessed the injustices of the far too many people incarcerated on marijuana charges.
I hope that this is something that he is still pursuing and helps champion the call to decriminalize and/or legalize the substance both in the US and Canada.

A Voice From Ottawa
said
0 0

A-ha!

James
said
0 0

Couldn't have happened to a more appropriate crook!

Al
said
0 0

Maybe he should have stayed in Canada.Our system would have released him long ago.Perhaps money cant buy everything ...

I can't comment.
said
0 0

I'm too upset by this news. *Sob*

Mel
said
0 0

Do the crime, pay in time....78 months not long enough for his type of Corporate greed...gotta catch all the other crooks ...Black and Madoff are just the tip of the iceberg....

Nancy
said
0 0

The judge is to be commended.It would seem that Mr Black is not above the law after all. This once very powerful man chose his own fate. So face the music,do the time,and learn the lesson.

DaveEast
said
0 0

Convicted criminal Conrad Black is showing the power of money in getting the Supreme Court to hear his case. This criminal will doubtless be reaffirmed as a convict by that Court when the smoke clears After he is, let us hope that this man, who sought citizenship elsewhere so he could be given undeserved accolades, will be barred from entering this country upon finishing his sentence.

That would not only be ironic and poetic justice, but also what the majority of Canadians would want.

Alan
said
0 0

Good. Maybe it will take that smug look off his face for once in his life. He acts like he hasn't taken any responsibility for his actions and he comes across as a spoiled, petulent, arrogant man. Conrad, you broke the law now shut up and take your lumps.

db
said
0 0

i can go in i can go out.

ken
said
0 0

Mr. Black is finding out the hard way that he cannot buy everything he wants. Kudos to the judge for revoking bail.

Alan - Toronto
said
0 0

Must be puzzling to Connie why he's not gettings the results he wants from relentless lobbying, jockeying, and pushing buttons as he's been so accustomed to doing. It appears the US justice system doesn't wear down as easily as some of his former beleaguered competitors or vassals.

I always liked his resolve, but the line between resolve and desperation is very fine indeed.

Jason in Gatineau
said
0 0

All I can say is GOOD!

At least THEY are getting it right in the US!!!

ADM Saskatchewan
said
0 0

I just have one thing to say--Good!

Dean
said
0 0

Good! Criminals like him should be put away as a deterrent for others. Now, when will all of the bankers who caused the mortgage meltdown be put in jail for their brilliant decisions?

KJ in Kingston Ontario
said
0 0

It is heartbreaking to see an arrogant unrepentant millionaire stuck in jail for simply taking every cent he could squeeze out of his company -- when that continues to go on every day in our business culture without any penalty or sanction..

Paul
said
0 0

How is that for justice? You break the law, you pay the price. You are no different than Madoff or any other Ponzi schemer. Stop wasting your money and court time with your request for bail. You should have thought about that before your broke the law.

PB_Toronto
said
0 0

Good! Im not sure why society believes if you are some type of "big wig" you should get preferential treatment. Crime is Crime..now do your time!

In Depth

Where are they now?

Here's a list of Black's co-accused, and their current status.

Today's World Stories

This image from video purports to show black smoke leaping the air from shelling in Homs, Syria, on Wednesday, May 30, 2012. (Shaam News Network via AP video)

Pick your location

World -

News Sections

News Programs

Features

Browse: