[Drew68]

I guess there is no such thing as a default ruling in Georgia.

The plaintiffs were offered a default ruling. They turned it down, insisting that evidence be submitted and the case be decided on the merits.

[Texas Fossil]

insisting that evidence be submitted and the case be decided on the merits.

The case was not decide on it's merits.

[loucon]

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 judge then limited them on the evidence they could offer and then ruled that they did not present enough evidence to be probative and persuasive for the court to consider.

[Venturer]

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.

[philman_36]

They turned it down, insisting that evidence be submitted and the case be decided on the merits.
Really?! Hmmmm, let's see what was actually said.

@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.