Ex-Speaker Mike Madigan appeal goes in front of 3-judge panel in Chicago court Thursday

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Convicted former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan took his fight for freedom to the U.S. Court of Appeals Thursday. And he's hired some new powerhouse attorneys to make his case.

Madigan is serving a seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence in Morgantown, West Virginia for corruption.

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His fate is now in the hands of a three-judge panel at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse.

Madigan did not attend the hearing.

His new legal team made the case that he was wrongfully convicted, and the jury was improperly instructed on how to view the evidence.

Madigan's daughter, former Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, was in court for the hearing but left without commenting.

Behind her was Madigan's new lead attorney, Amy Saharia, whose past clients include Hillary Clinton.

Madigan was convicted last year on 10 corruption counts, including bribery, racketeering and wire fraud. The jury found he schemed with ComEd executives, who provided jobs for Madigan associates in exchange for help with legislation.

Saharia told the three-judge panel that the allegations were far too vague to meet the legal standards for bribery, and that there were problems with parts of the jury instructions.

Saharia went on to argue that making job recommendations are typical things that politicians do, contending that Madigan did not always support legislation that favored ComEd.

"He did not take cash, Rolex watches or trips to Vegas, as are commonly seen in bribery cases," Saharia said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Julia Schwartz countered during her arguments that contrary to defense claims, the bribery charges had enough specific elements to meet the legal standards needed for conviction.

"The properly instructed jury had proper evidence to how Madigan engaged in quid pro quo bribery," Schwartz said.

During the hearing, Judges Michael Scudder and Nancy Maldonado were the only ones asking questions. Judge Frank Easterbrook only listened.

Madigan's corrupt work with government mole Danny Solis, who secretly recorded meetings related to funneling property tax appeal business to Madigan's firm, also came up.

In the end, the government's attorney asked the panel to affirm Madigan's conviction.

"Mr. Madigan corrupted state government at the highest level. This is quintessential bribery made all the more serious by the extent of time and critical legislation impacted," Schwartz said.

The three-judge panel did not seem to give any reals hints of which way they might be leaning. And after the hearing Judge Easterbrook said they would take the case under advisement with a ruling coming at a later time.

Madigan asked President Donald Trump for a pardon late last year.

A clemency case has been opened and the petition is under review.

Madigan was disbarred, after the conviction.