Enron Executives Trial Set to Start in January 2006

How time flies when you're getting ready for trial!  U.S. District Judge Sim Lake has set the start of the criminal prosecution of former Enron CEOs Ken Lay and Jeffrey Skilling, along with former chief accounting officer Richard Causey, for January 2006 to accommodate the busy schedules of the various defense lawyers.  The judge, who said he appreciated the lawyers "giving me the time of day," said that December 2005 appeared to be the earliest available trial date, and to avoid any holiday conflicts set the trial to start on Jan. 17, 2006.  Lay initially sought a "speedy trial" (motion here)and for severance from the other defendants (motion here), which the judge denied, but now professes to be comfortable with the trial date that has been set.  At least now we have something to look forward to next year. A Houston Chronicle story here discusses the judge's ruling on setting the case for trial. (ph)