Legal News

Illinois AG Moves to Oust Blago; Dreier Employees to Go Payless

By Ashby Jones

We’re sure there’s a lot going on in the world, but for now, we’re having a hard time paying attention to anyone but the Law Blog Big Three: Rod Blagojevich, Marc Dreier and Bernie Madoff.

We’ll likely hit the Madoff situation in a later post, but for now, let’s get you up to speed on developments with the others.

A Blago Ouster? Lisa Madigan, the Illinois attorney general, filed papers with the state’s high court seeking to remove Blagojevich from office. Papers also seek a temporary restraining order against the governor. Click here and here for stories from the AP and NYT. “I recognize that this is an extraordinary request but these are extraordinary circumstances,” said Madigan, at a news conference on Friday. The filing asks that the lieutenant governor assume Blagojevich’s powers.

Madigan’s move may take some heat off the Illinois legislature, which had been contemplating impeachment. The legal basis for Madigan’s move: According to the AP, a rule that was intended to cover cases where a governor is incapacitated for health reasons. Her motion indicates that his inability to serve because of the scandal is akin to a debilitating health issue.

Hung out to Dreier: We’d known since the weekend that Dreier LLP lawyers were largely heading for the doors. Now, all those who have stayed behind have added incentive to start job-hunting. In an affidavit filed in the last day or so, Mark Pomerantz, the newly appointed receiver for Dreier LLP writes: “Indeed, it is very unlikely that the firm will be able to make its payroll commitment on December 15, 2008.” (Hat tip on the mini-headline to Above The Law, which used it earlier, here.)

Full post as published by Law Blog - WSJ.com on December 12, 2008 (boomark / email).