Federal appeals court judges don’t seem eager to embrace the arguments of lawyers seeking a new trial for Republican former New York Senate leader Dean Skelos (SKEH’-lohs) and his son.

Skelos was convicted of strong-arming three companies into giving his son $300,000 and was sentenced to five years in prison.

A three-judge panel Thursday heard attorney Alexandra Shapiro argue on Skelos’ behalf the convictions of him and his son should be vacated. Shapiro says that would be consistent with a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling reversing the conviction of a former Virginia governor. The government disagrees.

Circuit Judge Reena Raggi of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals challenged Shapiro repeatedly, saying Shapiro was being “a little selective in the facts.”

(AP)