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Gov. Pritzker's Lawyers Trying To Shield Him From Deposition In Racial Discrimination Lawsuit

Then-Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker meets with supporters in downtown Springfield shortly after his election victory in this file photo from 2018.
Brian Mackey
/
NPR Illinois
Then-Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker meets with supporters in downtown Springfield shortly after his election victory in this file photo from 2018.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s personal lawyers are seeking to keep him from having to sit for a deposition in a racial discrimination lawsuit against his campaign.

Brian Mackey reports.

The lawsuit accuses Pritzker's campaign organization of sidelining minority workers.

Pritzker has denied wrongdoing, and in a court filing, says he delegated day-to-day campaign operations to staff.

Indeed, the governor was dismissed from the case months ago, and his lawyers say defendants just want to question Pritzker in order to “pull him back into litigation.”

The lawyers are also trying to keep Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton from sitting for a deposition, although she is still a defendant.

On the other side, plaintiffs’ attorney Shay Allen emailed this about Pritzker and Stratton: "Only their titles separate them from any other person named in a lawsuit.” He goes on to say those titles should not exclude them from the judicial process.

“If there is truly nothing to hide, the governor and [lieutenant] governor should sit willingly and answer questions — to get to the truth of the matter,” Allen wrote.

A spokesman for the Pritzker campaign declined to comment for this story.

The case is Little v. JB Pritzker for Governor, No. 1:18-CV-06954 (N.D. IL).

Copyright 2021 NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS. To see more, visit NPR Illinois | 91.9 UIS.

Brian Mackey formerly reported on state government and politics for NPR Illinois and a dozen other public radio stations across the state. Before that, he was A&E editor at The State Journal-Register and Statehouse bureau chief for the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.