SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A judge has ordered the Illinois Department of Transportation to show by Dec. 19 that it has a legitimate reason for dismissing 55 employees.

Sangamon County Circuit Judge Patrick Kelley issued the ruling Wednesday.

Kelley earlier halted IDOT’s plan to dismiss the so-called staff assistants on Sept. 30 until the agency handed over the documents showing an authorized “material reorganization.”

IDOT announced the dismissals after a state investigation found more than 250 staff assistants had been improperly hired during the past decade.

Dismissals are allowed under a material reorganization. The Teamsters wants proof of the reorganization by seeking documents under the public-records law.

A federal judge in Chicago announced in a separate case last month the appointment of an independent monitor to oversee IDOT hiring.
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