A three-justice panel of the Federal Court of Appeal has denied Conrad Black's application to personally address a council that will recommend whether he should have his Order of Canada removed.

In a ruling Monday, the court upheld a lower court decision that the former media baron can only plead his case in writing.

The appeal court disagreed with arguments by Black's lawyer, Peter Howard, who said his client should be able to defend his reputation directly to the council.

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The judges said that any damage to Black's reputation was from his U.S. criminal convictions, and not from the possibility that he will be stripped of the country's highest honour.

The judges added that the advisory council is only tasked with making a recommendation to the Governor General, who has the discretion to make the final decision.

Black has been fighting a series of legal battles related to his U.S. convictions on fraud and obstruction of justice charges when he was the head of the Hollinger newspaper business.

Black was not present at the hearing Monday.