Veteran Justice Dept. attorney to handle Nacchio case
By Andy Vuong
Denver Post
Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Article Last Updated: 08/13/2008 03:50:33 PM MDT

A veteran Department of Justice attorney who has argued 100 cases before the U.S. Supreme Court will handle the appellate review of former Qwest chief executive Joe Nacchio's illegal insider-trading case.

U.S. Attorney for Colorado Troy Eid announced today that Edwin Kneedler, principal deputy solicitor general for the Justice Department, will argue the rare full-court appeal for the government in Nacchio's case before the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.

"We wanted the best and got him," Eid said in a written statement.  "Ed Kneedler argued his 100th case in the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year — one of just eight people in history to do so."

Kneedler, 62, is based in Washington, D.C.

The oral argument in Nacchio's appeal is set for Sept. 25.

Nacchio was convicted on 19 counts of illegal insider trading last year.  A three-judge appellate panel overturned the conviction, but the entire 10th Circuit has agreed to review the case.

Andy Vuong: 303-954-1209 or avuong@denverpost.com

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_10191659