Illinois Governor Pat Quinn said Wednesday he will not fire two remaining University of Illinois trustees who are refusing to step down, despite a recent admissions scandal.

The two hold-outs are Trustees Frances Carroll and James Montgomery.

Recently, Governor Quinn has been brandishing his constitutional authority to remove trustees - but the pair responded with threats of legal action.

Quinn is now saying he’ll let them serve out their terms.

QUINN: You can be as legalistic as you want.  I do not think that having a legal battle with two trustees who refuse to resign is the central focus of our work.

Quinn says that would be a “sideshow” that could detract from the U of I’s fundraising and faculty recruiting.

He also appointed two new trustees Wednesday: Merchandise Mart boss Chris Kennedy, and Lawrence Oliver, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney who now works for the Chicago-based Boeing Company.

Neither man was on hand for the announcement.

The governor says, in the next week or so, he plans to finish appointing replacements for trustees who’ve already offered to step down.