Judge Yves Alain has ordered former Justice Minister Marc Bellemare to testify before Quebec's Director General of Elections.
The Quebec Superior Court magistrate further stated on Thursday that his decision is binding, even if Bellemare does intend to appeal.
Lawyers for Bellemare and for the DGE faced off in a Quebec City courtroom.
The session ended with word that the former minister would be expected before election officials on August 20th.
In his decision, Justice Alain concluded that the proceedings undertaken by Bellemare to avoid testifying were abusive and were undertaken solely for the purposed of gaining time.
The judge further stated that all of Bellemare's objections to testifying could have been presented before the DGE.
At the same time, Justice Alain reproached the DGE for acting slowly, claiming that the issue is an urgent one.
In March, the DGE called Bellemare to testify in connection with his comments about influence peddling by contributors to the provincial Liberal Party and its effects on the selection of judges.
Since then, Bellemare has been arguing that he is not allowed to reveal detailed information gathered while acting as a minister.
Premier Jean Charest reacted to Bellemare's claims about influence peddling in judicial nominations by calling a public inquiry, headed by Michel Bastarache.
He also launched a $700,000 defamation suit against Bellemare.
