washington u.s. supreme court tuesday appear ready rule puerto rican politician maintain retry corruption charge involve trip las vegas watch box bout original conviction throw eight justices hear first oral argument new term appeal file hector martinez maldonado serve puerto rico senate 2005 2011 conviction businessman juan bravo fernandez former president private security company several justices express skepticism defendants arguments bravo fernandez seek bribe martinez maldonado win passage bill would benefit business accord prosecutors case focus part allegations bravo fernandez pay martinez maldonado travel las vegas 2005 watch boxer felix tito trinidad sport hero caribbean u.s. territory lose underdog winky wright bravo fernandez martinez maldonado convict roles allege bribery scheme boston-based 1st u.s. circuit court appeal throw convictions 2013. federal prosecutors plan new trial two men say bar would violate u.s. constitution protection double jeopardy prevent people try charge already acquit lawyers say double jeopardy apply jury acquit criminal charge concern conduct closely relate action retrial would focus prosecutors say acquittals inconsistent convictions suggest jurors understand law base question ask justices appear unlikely throw 2015 appeal court decision back prosecutors justice elena kagan ask defendants attorney lisa blatt argument anything rhetoric chief justice john roberts tell blatt burden show jury verdict legal valid judgment set facts government want re-try misunderstand rule due end june outside courthouse protesters demand u.s. senate confirm merrick garland president barack obama nominee fill court vacancy leave february death justice antonin scalia senate republicans refuse act garland nomination say obama successor make appointment take office january u.s. justices skeptical puerto rican politician 's bribery appeal