Illinois' highest court has ruled that the certificate of appointment for Roland Burris, the Chicago Democrat appointed by impeached Democrat Governor Blagojevich to replace Barack Obama, does not require the secretary of state’s signature.
CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent Dana Bash reports that after losing this legal battle with Burris, the
Senate's Democrat leaders are weighing their options:
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Illinois senior Sen. Dick Durbin had been very clear that their path to seating Burris began with the signature of Secretary of State Jesse White, citing a Senate rule from 1884 that seems to require it.
The Illinois State Supreme Court disagreed.
No further action is required by the Secretary of State or any other official to make the Governor’sappointment of Roland Burris to the United States Senate valid under Illinois law.
You can read the court's entire decision here.
There is another legal fight pending over Blagojevich's appointment of Burris. Judicial Watch, has filed a lawsuit against the United States Senate for denying Burris his "rightful position as the junior Senator from Illinois."
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