 The governor failed to meet a Wednesday deadline to tell the state
Senate who and what documents he would like to subpoena for the
impending trial.This is not the only deadline the governor has
neglected to meet. He never responded to the formal charge that he
abused his power as governor, and on Jan. 20 he failed to meet a
deadline to dismiss the charges against him. If the governor had
requested the charges be dropped, the Senate -- acting as the trial
judges -- would have voted whether or not to grant the request.
Bomke explained that though the governor did not provide a
response, the trial will continue with the Senate presuming the
governor pleads "not guilty." Jan. 21 was the deadline for all
parties to file requests to subpoena witnesses and documents, as
well as requests to submit evidence. Both the governor and the
General Assembly had until 10 a.m. Saturday to respond to these
requests.
In other legal news, a federal judge recently ruled against the
state law mandating a moment of silence in Illinois' public schools.
The legislation was introduced and passed as a way to allow
students to silently reflect on the day's events; however, U.S.
District Judge Robert W. Gettleman ruled that "the statute is a
subtle effort to force students at impressionable ages to
contemplate religion."
It is unknown whether or not Gettleman's decision will be
appealed by Attorney General Lisa Madigan.
[Text from file sent on behalf of
Sen.
Larry Bomke by Illinois
Senate Republican staff] |
