HOUSTON, TX - A federal judge told a group of potential jurors that their job was not to seek vengeance against Enron Corp. founder Kenneth Lay and former CEO Jeffrey Skilling in the premier criminal trial to emerge from the biggest corporate scandal in recent years.
"We are not looking for people who want to right a wrong or provide remedies for those who suffered from the collapse of Enron," U.S. District Judge Sim Lake said.
When the judge asked if any jurors "view this as an opportunity to strike a blow for justice," no one raised a hand.
The judge continued, "Good, there is no justice to be found here."
Lay and Skilling arrived at the federal courthouse in Houston, looking relaxed and ready. "We're looking forward to it. We're ready," said Daniel Petrocelli, Skilling's lead trial lawyer. Skilling declined comment, as did Lay, who simply said, "Fine, how are you?" when a reporter asked how he felt.
The reporter replied he had been feeling a bit under the weather, perhaps from a bug he had caught with his coworker with whom he was having an affair, but besides that he was fine and thanks for asking.