Conrad Black's arraignment hearing has been put off until Nov. 30 when the former media baron is expected to appear to answer fraud charges, a packed Chicago courtroom heard Tuesday.

An assistant U.S. attorney said Black's Canadian lawyer, Edward Greenspan, phoned the U.S. Attorney's office late Monday to say that Black had not yet lined up U.S. legal representation.

Greenspan asked that Tuesday's arraignment hearing be delayed and said his client would appear at a later date. Prosecutors agreed that Black could appear Nov. 30.

Conrad Black, Saturday.
Conrad Black, Saturday.

Black's arraignment hearing was then put off for eight days. Extradition proceedings will not be started unless Black fails to show up then.

"We expect Mr. Black to be here," assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Kent said.

Black was indicted last week on eight charges of mail and wire fraud, along with three other former Hollinger International executives.

The Canadian-born magnate is accused of swindling Hollinger shareholders out of millions of dollars while he was chairman and chief executive officer of the company.

Black has always maintained his innocence. He faces up to 40 years in jail if he is convicted on all of the fraud charges against him.

Former Hollinger executives John Boultbee, Peter Atkinson and Mark Kipnis have also been charged with fraud. Boultbee and Atkinson are Canadian; Kipnis is American.

Arraignment hearings for Boultbee and Atkinson have also been postponed until next week.

Lawyers for Ravelston Corp. showed up Tuesday. The company pleaded not guilty to seven counts of mail fraud and fraud. Ravelston was Black's former holding company.