Both sides involved in former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman's 2006 bribery convictions are trying to persuade the U.S. Supreme Court to either hear his appeal or allow a lower court's verdict to stand.

The Birmingham News reports that prosecutors say in new legal arguments that overturning the convictions would make it easier for politicians to trade campaign donations for official acts.

Siegelman's lawyers say campaign donations can't be bribes unless there's a clear agreement between the donor and the politician, and that there was no such agreement in Siegelman's case.

Siegelman was convicted of selling a seat on a hospital regulatory board to former HealthSouth CEO Richard Scrushy in exchange for $500,000 in donations to Siegelman's 1999 campaign to establish a state lottery.

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