Burris goes to court to push appointment through

[January 02, 2009]  CHICAGO (AP) -- U.S. Senate appointee Roland Burris has asked a court to force Secretary of State Jesse White to certify his appointment to President-elect Barack Obama's old Senate seat.

An attorney for Burris says paperwork was filed Wednesday with the Illinois Supreme Court.

It's the start of legal wrangling over the Senate seat. Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich appointed Burris on Tuesday despite the governor's arrest on federal corruption charges.

White rejected Blagojevich's proclamation and says he won't sign off on appointments by Blagojevich because of the accusations against him. The governor says he's innocent.

White spokesman Dave Druker said the state agency had not reviewed the court filing but believes it is acting within its authority.

[Associated Press]

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