Reply #14: The keyword is "parallel"

[lapfog_1]

or analogous. But not the same. It's a political process, not a criminal one (or even civil). Sometimes (like in the impeachment of the President of the US) there is the presence of a member of the judiciary (the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court) at the trial that removes the party, but that doesn't make it a criminal procedure.

Again, it's a political process, undertaken by a legislature on whatever grounds they deem necessary. There doesn't even have to be a reason stated or specific charges made. A member the legislature only has to introduce the articles and have a majority (or sometimes a super majority) of the body vote "Aye". To remove, a "show trial" is conducted, and again, to "convict" and remove from office, all that has to happen is for a majority (and this time, almost always a super majority, depending on the state constitution) to again vote "Aye". And that's it. The Governor is removed from office. It doesn't mean that he or she will be hauled off to jail or that they will even have a record. They simply aren't the governor anymore.

Given that the Supreme Court for Illinois just rejected the "unfit to serve" complaint filed by the Attorney General, I hope the Legislature moves quickly to impeach and remove from office Mr. Blagojevitch.