QUEBEC — Quebec's former justice minister was in court Tuesday trying to quash a summons to testify at a public inquiry.

Marc Bellemare presented his request before Quebec Superior Court in an attempt to get out of testifying at the public inquiry headed by retired Supreme Court Justice Michel Bastarache.

That inquiry, called by Premier Jean Charest, is examining allegations that Liberal party bagmen called the shots when it comes to naming judges in the province.

Bellemare is the key witness in the inquiry because he's the person who made the allegations of impropriety. He is scheduled to testify before the commission on Aug. 24.

He is also slated to appear before Quebec's director general of elections on Aug. 20.

Quebec's elections czar wants to know more about other allegations made by Bellemare about illegal fundraising practices by the Liberal party.

Bellemare was also trying to get out of testifying in that instance, but lost a bid in Quebec Superior Court at the end of July.

He plans to appeal that decision.

Bellemare created the political tempest last spring, when he publicly stated that while he was justice minister in the Charest government he was pressured by party financiers to name certain judges to the bench.

He says he told Charest about the allegations and that the premier ignored him.

Charest vehemently denied the allegation and launched a defamation suit against Bellemare for $700,000.

He also created the Bastarache inquiry.