Sheldon Silver trial’s judge to release court filings

The federal judge who presided over the corruption trial of former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver said in a ruling Tuesday that she plans to unseal court filings that apparently contain evidence against Silver that was not allowed at his trial.

Manhattan U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni said the release, which lawyers for Silver have opposed, will occur on March 2 unless an appeal is filed and the unsealing is stayed by the Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Silver was convicted last year of getting legal fees in return for legislative favors he did for an asbestos-disease researcher and two developers. The nature of the sealed evidence, which was the subject of nonpublic hearings before trial, is unknown.

Silver’s sentencing is scheduled for April.