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Blagojevich lawyers to boycott impeachment proceedings

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Lawyers for Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich announced Friday that they will boycott impeachment proceedings against Blagojevich in the Illinois State Senate. The lawyers, Edward Genson, Sam Adam, and Sam Adam, Jr., will boycott the impeachment proceedings as a protest against Senate procedures they believe will rob Blagojevich of his due process rights. Genson called the rules of the impeachment trial unfair, and characterized the governor's impeachment as a foregone conclusion. The impeachment proceedings are scheduled to begin on January 26 at the Illinois State Senate in Springfield. Last week, the Illinois House of Representatives voted 114-1 to impeach Blagojevich, after a House committee voted unanimously to recommend the impeachment. Blagojevich and his chief of staff John Harris were arrested last month by federal agents on charges of corruption. Both Blagojevich and Harris have been charged with conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud and solicitation of bribery. They are accused of conspiring to sell or trade the senate seat left vacant by Obama and obtaining illegal campaign contributions. They are also accused of threatening to withhold assistance to the Chicago Tribune with the sale of Wrigley Field unless two editorial writers who had been critical of Blagojevich were fired. Harris resigned his position after the arrest, while Blagojevich has continued to report to work. Last month, the Illinois Supreme Court rejected a bid by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan to have Blagojevich temporarily removed from office.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on January 17, 2009 (boomark / email).