Supreme Court refuses William Jefferson's appeal,13-year prison sentence upheld
by Bruce Alpert - Times-Picayune (excerpt)

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court Monday refused to take former Rep. William Jefferson's appeal of his 2009 corruption appeal, likely spelling the end of the line for his efforts to overturn his record 13-year prison sentence. As usual in such matters, the High Court didn't give a reason. It would have taken affirmative votes by four of the nine justices to schedule oral arguments on the motion by Jefferson's lawyers to throw out his conviction and schedule a new trial. The court said that Justice Elena Kagan, who served as the Justice Department's solicitor generator for part of the lengthy Jefferson prosecution, did not participate in the deliberations.