The first thing visible in Prof. Rick Hasen's office on the third floor of the UCI School of Law is a voting booth just inside the door - one from Florida actually used during the hotly contested presidential election of 2000.
That's because election law, Hasen’s primary field of expertise, took off with that election, he explains, after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to order a recount in Florida, and George W. Bush defeated Al Gore by a narrow margin. "In 2000, the area exploded," Hasen says. "Most major law schools now have someone in the field and there are competing textbooks."
If I remember correctly, the selective recount was refused by the USSC UNANIMOUSLY! An entire recount was possible.
Anybody keen on this?
Yes, I do believe you are correct. The way I remember it, there was a full recount that kicked in automatically, by state law. When that recount started going in Bush’s favor, and the margin of victory was widening, the Dems sued in Florida court to stop the full recount. Then they fought in court, all the way up to the USSC to attempt to get them to order only a selective recount, and the Supremes refused to interfere in the process by overturning the state courts. Then, finally the full recount resumed and W was declared the winner.
At least, that is my recollection.