By Sean Crawford, Illinois Public Radio
Springfield, Ill. – A hearing is scheduled Monday in Springfield, Ill. for a pair of former state workers. The two were fired for allegedly rigging the hiring process to help politically connected people get government jobs.
Dawn DeFraties and Michael Casey both worked for the state's personnel agency, Central Management Services (CMS). They were charged with making sure hiring rules were followed when someone applied for a state job.
But last year they were fired because the Blagojevich Administration says they gave some applicants favorable treatment. DeFraties and Casey are expected to tell a different story: One in which they claim they acted on direct orders from the Governor's office.
They've offered email correspondence to back up that point. Their attorney, Carl Draper, wants his clients reinstated to their jobs with back pay. The hearing could last for several days.
However, attorneys for the administration have filed a motion to remove Draper as counsel. They argue he is on their list of potential witnesses.
If he is forced to give up representing DeFraties and Casey, it will mean another delay.
An administrative law judge will rule on that motion at the start of Monday's proceedings.