HOUSTON — A federal jury began deliberating Thursday on the fate of Arthur Andersen LLP, the disintegrating accounting firm charged with obstruction of justice in the shredding of Enron Corp.-related material.

        If convicted, Andersen would face fines and would be barred from auditing public companies, a major part of its business. More than 650 of its 2,300 clients already have fired the firm, most of them since the indictment was unsealed March 14.

        “We're fighting for our dignity,” said C.E. Andrews, managing partner for Andersen's global audit practice. “That's why we're here.”

        As its business has withered, Andersen has been selling assets piece by piece, with many of its former employees joining other firms that bought the segments. Andersen also has laid off workers nationwide.

        “The Justice Department killed this company,” defense attorney Rusty Hardin said.

        The Texas jury started its discussions just after 10 a.m. Thursday. The only early word from jurors was a request for extra copies of their 15-page instruction and for office supplies such as pens, highlighters and sticky notes.

        Jurors adjourned for the day around 7 p.m. without reaching a verdict. They are to resume deliberations at 10 a.m. today.

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