In one of the most talked about business collapses in American history, Enron’s former top brass, Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling, are finally getting to defend themselves in front of “a jury of their peers.” The Enron meltdown culminated in a 2001 collapse of the company that put thousands of people out of work and nullified retirement savings accounts for many.
Despite requesting a change of venue, both defendants expressed satisfaction with jury selection that took place yesterday in Houston. The judge in the case actually selected the 16 candidates himself without giving lawyers for the defendants an opportunity to question them. Candidates had been prescreened through a survey designed to weed out those who expressed bias.
The case, which was called “one of the most important ever tried,” according to the judge, is expected to last approximately four months.
