Enron judge warns jurors against righting wrongs in Lay-Skilling trial News
Enron judge warns jurors against righting wrongs in Lay-Skilling trial

[JURIST] US District Judge Sim Lake Monday told potential jurors in the trial of Enron [JURIST news archive] founder Kenneth Lay [Houston Chronicle profile] and former Enron CEO Jeffrey Skilling [Houston Chronicle profile] that it was not up to them to provide justice for the suffering caused by the collapse of the corporation. "We are not looking for people who want to right a wrong", he said. Lake has decided to question the jury pool himself, and hopes to choose twelve jurors and four alternates by the end of the day. The trial is expected to begin Tuesday, and will take place in Houston, TX, where thousands lost their jobs due to the fall of Enron. This comes after defense requests were denied [JURIST report] to move the location of the trial [JURIST report] to escape a potentially hostile jury pool. Lake has been adamant in his warnings to jurors against seeking retaliation against Lay and Skilling, stressing that the trial is about law, not morality. Both Lay and Skilling face charges of fraud and conspiracy [PDF indictment] in connection with the fall of Enron Corporation. If convicted, the two could possibly face decades in prison and be forced to pay millions of dollars in damages. AP has more.

6:04 PM ET – CNN is reporting that jury selection for the trial is now complete, with nine women and seven men picked.