Ex-Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver disbarred

NEW YORK (AP) — Former New York state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has lost his license to practice law for four months after he was convicted of fraud and extortion.

Silver was disbarred Tuesday by the Appellate Division of the state Supreme Court in Manhattan.

The 72-year-old Democrat was convicted on Nov. 30 in a $5 million corruption case. Prosecutors said he traded favors to enrich himself. He is scheduled to be sentenced April 13.

Silver's attorneys argued that the disbarment should be delayed until a federal judge decides on his motion for a new trial.

But the appeals court denied the request and said Silver's name should be "stricken from the roll of attorneys" in New York.

Silver served as leader of the state Assembly from 1994 through early 2015.