A federal judge has rejected Tom Girardi’s request for a new trial following the disbarred attorney's conviction in August of embezzling settlement funds from his clients.

Federal public defenders for the 85-year-old Girardi had insisted a new trial was warranted given there were signs he was not mentally competent enough to have understood the court proceedings. Girardi was convicted of wire fraud and faces up to 80 years in federal prison when he is sentenced on Dec. 20.