Conrad Black, seen in this file photo from July 2007, will remain in prison after his request for bail was denied by the U.S. Supreme Court. (Tom Hanson/Canadian Press)

The highest court in the United States on Thursday rejected Conrad Black's request for bail before it hears the appeal of his fraud and obstruction of justice conviction.

U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens denied the former press baron's bid for release.

The U.S. top court agreed in May to review Black's conviction, which has been upheld by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago. The U.S. Supreme Court also agreed to hear the appeals of two other former executives of the Hollinger International.

One of those executives, Jack Boultbee, has already been granted bail by a Chicago trial court judge.

Montreal-born Black, who once ran the fourth-largest newspaper chain in the world, was convicted in July 2007 of a $6.1-million fraud and obstruction of justice charge related to his eight years as head of Hollinger International Inc. In addition to being sentenced to prison time, Black was fined $125,000 US.

Black is currently serving a 6½-year sentence in a Florida prison.