May 28, 2004
By MARK PAZNIOKAS, Courant Staff Writer
Gov. John G. Rowland's office filed a lawsuit Thursday that challenges the House impeachment committee's subpoena for his testimony and invites a broader court review of the impeachment inquiry.
With 74 pages of legal papers filed in Superior Court in Hartford, the governor's lawyers ended weeks of feints and parries by launching their first legal attack on the legislature's investigation into Rowland's fitness for office.
On its face, the lawsuit raises a simple question: Can a legislative committee compel a sitting governor to testify without violating the constitutional doctrine of separation of powers?
"A subpoena by a legislative body to a sitting chief executive is extraordinary," said Ross Garber, counsel to the governor's office. "In fact, never before in the history of our state has a governor been subpoenaed to testify before the legislature."
more:
http://www.ctnow.com/news/custom/newsat3/hc-impeach0528.artmay28,1,2838959.story?coll=hc-headlines-newsat3