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Blagojevich seeks trial delay

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich leaves federal court after a hearing in his corruption trial in Chicago on April 21, 2010. ( UPI/Brian Kersey)

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Published: May 21, 2010 at 7:52 AM

CHICAGO, May 21 (UPI) -- Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to delay the start of his June corruption trial, court officials said.

Court representatives confirmed Thursday Blagojevich's petition to postpone the trial was delivered to the chambers of Justice John Paul Stevens, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Blagojevich's attorneys have been trying to delay the trial until the Supreme Court rules on the constitutionality of the "honest services" fraud law by the end of June. The law has been criticized as too ambiguous.

Without a ruling, Blagojevich's lawyers say they don't know how their case will be structured, the Tribune said.

Blagojevich, 53, impeached and removed from office in January 2009, is to go on trial June 3 on a variety of charges, including allegedly trying to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama.

Topics: Justice John Paul Stevens, Rod Blagojevich

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