WASHINGTON - Mayor Richard M. Daley's former patronage chief and two other former city officials have failed to persuade the Supreme Court to consider setting aside their fraud convictions.
The justices, in an order Monday, are letting stand Robert Sorich's conviction and 46-month prison term. Sorich and the others were found guilty of skirting laws that ban political city hiring.
The federal appeals court in Chicago earlier upheld the convictions. The court rejected defense arguments that the men couldn't be convicted of criminal fraud because they didn't take bribes or kickbacks.
Justice Antonin Scalia said he voted to accept the appeal and decide the case.
The case is Sorich v. U.S., 08-410.
