Governor Pat Quinn has asked a federal court to dismiss a Chicago attorney's challenge to state hiring.
Quinn argues the attorney lacks proper authority and says his requests would burden the government and strip the governor of key power.
The Democratic governor's motion was filed late Friday in U.S. District Court in Chicago. It answers an April complaint by Michael Shakman, author of a 1972 decree prohibiting political hiring in Cook County.
Shakman says Quinn's administration violated that decree and another in Transportation Department hiring and promotions.
Quinn contends governors are not bound by the Shakman decree and that his request for an investigation would improperly impede the governor's authority.
He wants a judge to rule on his request before approving Shakman's demand for thousands of government documents about hiring.
