Madtown HD Junkie
March 6th, 2009, 08:22 PM
http://www.twincities.com/politics/ci_11853364?nclick_check=1
The Minnesota Supreme Court today decided that Democrat Al Franken has no right to an election certificate — which would pave the way for Franken to immediately join the U.S. Senate — before the end of Republican Norm Coleman's court case.
"We conclude that neither state nor federal law requires issuance of a certificate of election before the election contest is completed; we deny the petition," the Supreme Court wrote in a unanimous opinion released today.
Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, a Democrat and Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, have said that state law bars a Senate candidate from receiving an election certificate when there is a contested election.
The decision comes as Coleman and Franken are still wrangling in court over who got the most votes in the long-running race. Franken has a 225-vote lead.
The Minnesota Supreme Court today decided that Democrat Al Franken has no right to an election certificate — which would pave the way for Franken to immediately join the U.S. Senate — before the end of Republican Norm Coleman's court case.
"We conclude that neither state nor federal law requires issuance of a certificate of election before the election contest is completed; we deny the petition," the Supreme Court wrote in a unanimous opinion released today.
Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, a Democrat and Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a Republican, have said that state law bars a Senate candidate from receiving an election certificate when there is a contested election.
The decision comes as Coleman and Franken are still wrangling in court over who got the most votes in the long-running race. Franken has a 225-vote lead.