RALEIGH, N.C.  – U.S. Sen. Richard Burr said Senate leaders should allow Roland Burris of Illinois to take the job vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

The North Carolina Republican said Friday that Burris should be seated as “expeditiously as possible.”

North Carolina Sen. Kay Hagan’s office had no immediate comment Friday on Hagan’s position.

The Illinois Supreme Court ruled Friday that Burris’s appointment by Gov. Rod Blagojevich does not need to be certified by Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.

White refused to sign off on Blagojevich’s appointment because of federal corruption charges alleging the governor schemed to sell Obama’s seat. Blagojevich was impeached Friday by the Illinois House.