JUDGES: Franken winner of Senate race

KSTP.com ^ | 4/13/09 | Nicole Muehlhausen

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

Over five months after the election, a three-judge panel has declared Democrat Al Franken the winner of the Minnesota U.S. Senate race.

The judges issued their final ruling late Monday, stating "Franken received the highest number of lawfully cast ballots in the Nov. 4, 2008 general election."

They also have determined that Franken is entitled to receive the certificate of election.

Last week, Republican Norm Coleman suffered a blow after a few hundred previously rejected absentee ballots were opened and counted at the tail end of Coleman's lawsuit contesting his loss in a statewide recount. They broke almost 2-to-1 for Franken to pad his lead to 312.

Outside the courtroom, Coleman attorney Ben Ginsberg minimized the new margin because his side was certain to appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court.

"What happened today in the sphere of this election is really inconsequential," he said. "There's a much larger universe of ballots that should be opened."

Ginsberg said he hopes the high court would reinstate as many as 4,800 absentee ballots rejected by local officials.

Top Franken attorney Marc Elias said he doubted an appeal would change things.

"The problem that former Senator Coleman has is he lost fair and square," Elias said. "He lost because more people voted for Al Franken than voted for Norm Coleman. No amount of lawyering or sophisticated legal arguments is going to change that."

Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, a Democrat, said he would welcome an appeal, saying he thinks the state's highest court could provide closure.

The appeal must come within 10 days after the final order from the three-judge panel that presided over the seven-week trial.

[GAB-1955]

At least Coleman kept him out of office for three months.

[LibLieSlayer]

This will go to the SCOTUS and according to Napalitano... it could take up to six years to work its way there... until then... Norm sits in the seat.

LLS

[Viking2002]

Let 'em hash it out in court until the mid-terms. People will be so fed up with Zero, we'll have a nice welcoming party elected and waiting for Fishface if Coleman runs out of options. We can hand him a plumbing snake and toilet brush, and elect him as Minority Bowl Whip and Sewer Inspector. Fitting job for a fat little turd like him.

[Brad’s Gramma]

The whole COUNTRY needs a drink......

[peace with honor]

ya, May be he will hook up with BAWNEY FRANKEY

[americanophile]

The Honorable Al Franken.

[pollywog]

did I not read that Coleman was headed to Federal Court with this??

[happygrl]

This is a result of Soros money.

The Secretary of State Offices throughout the country were targeted, as they are the gatekeepers for election processes.

Conservatives need to get smart and work from the bottom up.

Who knew how valuable this office could be ?

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

“Norm sits in the seat.”

No, he doesn’t.

[Never on my watch]

What a freak-show Congress is! If I was walking down the street with my children and the members of Congress were approaching, I would quickly drag my kids across the street.

[silent_jonny]

Whatever. A psycho comedian should compliment this group nicely.

[americanophile]

[ButThreeLeftsDo]

He will...

[SoCalPol]

The stupid loons who didn’t vote for Norm Coleman because
he wasn’t 100% pure conservative, I hope they enjoy their 100% Left wing Franken.

You can always count on the third Party loons faciliating a Democrat win.

[autumnraine]

I have officially given up on this country.

[StarFan]

This will go to the SCOTUS and according to Napalitano... it could take up to six years to work its way there... until then... Norm sits in the seat.

Norm?

[anniegetyourgun]

Truly a reflection on how far down our nation has fallen....

[pissant]

No surprise. Maybe if Coleman had run as a conservative....oh well.

[StarFan]

Unbelievable!

[Venturer]

Coleman gave it a fair shot. Kennedy proved that The Presidency and Franken just proved a Senate seat is easily bought also.

It’s going to be fun watching this idiot as a Senator.