Arthur Andersen has been refused permission to have its trial on criminal obstruction charges for shredding tons of Enron documents delayed.
The company wanted the trial postponed for six or seven weeks.
Andersen claims it has been hurt by media coverage of the case and that prospective jurors have already formed negative opinions.
Speaking in court in Houston, Attorney Mr Rusty Hardin said: "I cannot overemphasize how unfairly we've been treated so far, not by the court, but by the court of public opinion.
"We do think that to protect our client we have to have some breathing space."
Federal prosecutors opposed the request, saying there was no reason why the trial - scheduled for May 6th - should be put off.
Assistant US attorney Mr Andrew Weissman stated: "This is their day in court and they just don't want it."
Referring to Mr Hardin's publicity argument, he added: "There is just no way that can be taken as an argument or a true real reason to postpone this trial."
Mr Hardin said that lawyers have examined hundreds of questionnaires from potential jurors and found that one-third of them believe Andersen is guilty.
He also cited recent published reports that quoting unidentified sources close to the government's case divulging details, and accused prosecutors of being the sources.
PA