The move by Attorney General Lisa Madigan came as Blagojevich showed no sign of resigning four days after his arrest on charges of swapping political favors for cash, including an attempt to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.
Madigan, like the governor and Obama a Democrat, said a provision of the state law, though never before invoked, allows her to seek the governor's removal through the court.
Blagojevich has not been indicted and remains governor with full powers. But the charges come after years of investigation detailed by court-approved wiretaps of the governor. Through his lawyer he has denied doing anything wrong.
The selection of someone to fill Obama's Senate seat remains in limbo. All 50 members of the U.S. Senate Democratic Caucus told Blagojevich in a letter on Wednesday to resign and under no circumstances make an appointment to fill the seat.
