The plaintiffs were offered a default ruling. They turned it down, insisting that evidence be submitted and the case be decided on the merits.
The case was not decide on it's merits.
So they presented their evidence , the Defendents didn’t even make a showing and the Judge decided against the plaintiffs.
Makes sense to someone I see.
@http://www.art2superpac.com/UserFiles/file/Farrar-Welden-Swensson-PowellvObama-JudgeMichaelMalihiFinalOrder-GeorgiaBallotAccessChallenge-2.3.2012.pdf
Nonetheless, despite the Defendant's failure to appear, Plaintiffs asked this Court to decide the case on the merits of their arguments and evidence. The Court granted Plaintiffs' request.
It seems you forgot something. It says right there that the Plaintiffs asked the Court to decide the case on the merits of their arguments and the evidence.
Yet he chose to rule solely on the merits, not on the merits and evidence.