COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Ohio Supreme Court says Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner must give a sworn deposition over her decision to remove a county elections official.

The high court said today that state law does not shield Brunner from direct questioning and a staff member can't serve in her place.

Brunner, a Democrat, had sought a protective order in the case of Alex Arshinkoff (AHR-shin-koff), whom she refused to reappoint to the Summit County Board of Elections. He's also the Republican Party chairman in the county.

Brunner says she made the decision over concerns that employees in Akron were being harassed and threatened. Arshinkoff denies the accusations.

An attorney for Arshinkoff says he hopes to schedule Brunner's deposition on Wednesday.