Posted on 04/06/2005 6:38:35 AM PDT by bedolido
WENATCHEE, Wash. - The legal challenge to the governor's election will go to trial May 23, a judge decided Tuesday.
Chelan County Superior Court Judge John Bridges said the trial shouldn't take more than two weeks. Whatever he decides, the case will ultimately be appealed to the state Supreme Court.
Republicans are challenging the election of Democratic Gov.
Christine Gregoire, who won by just 129 votes in a hand recount of 2.9 million ballots. Republican Dino Rossi won the first two counts.
It could take months to settle the election challenge.
Republicans are optimistic the Supreme Court will render a final verdict in June. Bridges denied the state Democratic Party's request to delay the trial for six months.
"I am attempting to be as sensitive as I can to everyone's desires as to when we have this trial," Bridges said Tuesday. "But there comes a point when the court has to say, 'This is when it's going to be,' and I think the point is today."
Republicans contend that election workers' errors, especially in the Democratic stronghold of King County, irrevocably tainted the results by allowing illegal votes to be counted.
Democrats say the hand recount was accurate and that Gregoire is the legitimate governor.
Bridges scheduled a preliminary hearing for May 2 to determine what the burden of proof will be for Republicans. Democrats say the GOP should be forced to prove how each illegal voter cast his or her ballot, and subtract those votes from the totals.
Republicans want to use "proportional analysis" - meaning that illegal votes would be subtracted from Rossi or Gregoire based on general voting patterns in precincts.
(Excerpt) Read more at nwcn.com ...
Former State legislator Dino Rossi is challenging Gov. Christine Gregoire's election.
This should be interesting.
I thought Dino had already lost this case. At any rate, I bet Dino has a smoked chance in hell of winning this thing. Perhaps it will keep him in the limelight for a Senate Run.
Agree completely.
Another Judge Greer Redux!! DENIED, denied, denied!!
Is this just pessimism, or do you know something about this judge?
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