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THIS JUST IN: ALJ recommends two-week suspension for DeFraties

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Illinois

After being scapegoated and demonized, the “CMS Two” finally get a modicum of justice…

Two former state workers at the center of Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s effort to portray himself as a corruption-buster violated hiring rules but should not have been fired, a judge said Friday evening.

Administrative Law Judge Anthony Dos Santos recommended that Dawn DeFraties and Michael Casey be suspended for 14 days.

Blagojevich aides fired the two former managers of the Department of Central Management Services in April 2006 for allegedly rigging hiring procedures for favored jobseekers.

The administration said they cut corners to give some applicants a better chance at posts and pressured evaluators to give top “A” grades to sub-par applications from clout-connected candidates.
Dos Santos, in a 51-page ruling filed late Friday and obtained by The Associated Press, said the state proved violations against the pair, but not to the extent originally alleged.

“Neither Ms. DeFraties nor Mr. Casey directly or indirectly fixed the grading process,” Dos Santos wrote. “They did not order an ‘A’ to be given if one was not deserved.”

The judge also suggested throwing out charges of insubordination against the two for failing to answer questions from a lawyer hired by Blagojevich to investigate hiring irregularities. Dos Santos said the lawyer never informed the pair they could be fired for not cooperating.

posted by Rich Miller
Friday, May 4, 07 @ 7:36 pm

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