Looks like Dino is going to have to testify prior to the election. King County Judge Kallas refused his attempt to quash a subpoena in in a lawsuit alleging he illegally helped his biggest supporter, the BIAW, raise money.Rossi’s lawyers had argued that sitting for a deposition would unfairly deprive him of valuable campaign time. But Judge Kallas ruled that “it is precisely because Mr. Rossi seeks office” that he should have to depose on the hurry-up schedule sought by the plaintiffs.The judge said the deposition needs to be limited to “issues related to pre-election relief.” It was a huge victory for the two former state Supreme Court justices who are suing Rossi, and for their attorney Knoll Lowney. They claim that last year Rossi aided the BIAW’s effort to raise funds that were earmarked for him. That would disqualify the BIAW’s millions of dollars in “independent” political expenditures, rendering them illegal. Of course most of that money’s out the door. But the negative publicity is, at this point, priceless. And a successful move to cut off the BIAW’s spending in the eleventh hour, in such a close race, could actually have an impact.It’s an impressive win for the public’s right to know, especially given that the state Attorney General’s Office had interceded in the case–in effect, on Rossi’s behalf–and that the legal and political establishment generally seems to accept most anything in the name of “politics.” Rossi and the BIAW tried to dismiss the charges as nothing but a stunt by Gregoire supporters. The judge was smart enough to see past that.