Illinois Chief Justice balked at deposition

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Illinois' highest-ranking judge refused to answer 15 questions at a deposition he gave last month -- including what medications he takes and whether it is fair to criticize public figures like President Bush.

Chief Justice Robert Thomas faced the grilling in his defamation suit against a suburban newspaper, the Kane County Chronicle. On Thursday, under orders from a Cook County judge, Thomas answered most of them, though some of his answers were immediately placed under seal.

During the April interview -- given under oath -- Thomas invoked his position as chief justice as a reason not to answer. But legal experts said deposition witnesses are supposed to talk.

That's the corrupt Illinois Way.