Coleman Appeals Election To State Supreme Court

As expected, Norm Coleman formally appealed the results of the Minnesota recount election to the state's Supreme Court on Monday, adding another stage to an already lengthy electoral process.

The former Senator's legal team hosted a conference call late Monday afternoon to announce their much-anticipated move. They would not rule out the idea of taking the case even further: the U.S. Supreme Court.

"We are just thinking about the Minnesota Supreme Court for now," said lead recount attorney Ben Ginsberg.

As for how long the process could take, another Coleman attorney, Jim Langdon, said he expected the court to hear arguments sometime between two weeks and two months from today.

"In normal circumstances, with a typical civil case, the process could take anywhere from three to eight months," he said. "So this is -- whatever they choose will be very expedited."

Asked why he expected the state Supreme Court to come to a different conclusion than the lower appellate court -- which ruled Al Franken the winner of the most votes in the November election -- Ginsberg argued that the two venues had a different legal purview.

"Appellate courts generally have a broader view of the law and this court expressed its reluctance to get involved in the constitutional issues," he said. "The Supreme Court had said in other opinions that it has issued that it takes a much broader view of the law."

"There are lower court opinions reversed from time to time in all matters of the law," he concluded, "including recounts."

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Coleman's legal strategy hinges on having the court order the reconsideration of roughly 4,000 rejected absentee ballots, which lower courts have ruled were rightfully removed from the official count (usually for being filed too late in the process).

That said, when absentee ballots have been reintroduced during the recount they have generally favored Franken. Ginsberg was asked why he thought the same wouldn't be true with the disputed 4,000.

"As we have said before, the ballots that were opened up in the canvassing board recount and really by this court came much more from precincts that were carried by Franken than by Sen. Coleman," he replied. "And if ballots that are left, they tend to be from precincts carried by Sen. Coleman. But what we have also said all along is you never know what any one ballot will hold... there is a principle at play here."

Al Franken's legal team is planning a conference call later on Monday to respond to the latest twist in the Minnesota saga.

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Comments

[LeeCalif]

If there weren't rules to follow when voting, well, there'd be chaos.

It's those DEREGULATORS coming back again.

Haven't they done enough damage ??

[Char59]

What's up with this sore loser? he needs to move on.

[LeeCalif]

Ahhhh ......... Where is the media on all this SORE LOSERNESS ???

I wouldn't expect AP coverage because of their agenda, but the rest? Where are they?

[Chip W]

I have no doubt that, had Norm Coleman been declared the winner by the appellate court, he'd still be taking the same position.
He'd be out there saying "No, I can't accept this victory. It's not about me; it's about those 4,000 good, proud, hard-working, lutefisk-eating citizens of the great state of Minnesota who have been disenfranchised by this process and whose voices must be heard."
I'm proud to have Norm Coleman as my former senator, and it will pain me to see this paragon of honesty fade away into relative obscurity.

[Beowoof]

Beautifully put.

[democracy7]

Sweet.

[demfriend]

If there is a God she or he should put the hammer down on this idiot. The GOP has convinced us in so many ways they have no leader and those they have that have lost the elections in their area have not given up with grace nor brain cells apparently showing so maybe they believe an empty seat will convince those who did not vote for them this time will vote GOP next time? If this happened where I live and I was a republican I would be an independent shortly after the first challenge failed Coleman. I also am saddend that the folks who suffer from being not represented by the man they did vote for have not been more active in telling Coleman to give it up for the sake of the party and their representation. If this is the way the GOP wants people to see them as sore losers and idiots then maybe the next election might be less GOP but they are riding the dead horse until the bones are falling apart and still trying to ride like they have intelligence.

[Martampa]

He and Pawlenty should pay big time for dragging this on and on. I hope the voters of MN remember what a laughing stock those two have made of their state.

[IndependentBadger]

I am a very proud Wisconsinite. That said, I have a great fondness for Minnesota. I consider us sister states. It really hurts to see these GOP fools wreck what should be a nearly immaculate reputation, as states go. Minnesota deserves better than this.

[SteveDenver]

I've heard the same from many Wisconsin bloggers. They're mighty polite and even-tempered, but they're blunt and honest about the GOP foolishness.

[retromega]

Having just read through the courts decision I can only speculate at why Coleman is "appealing"! Coleman must have gone to law school just like he pretended to be a Senator. You would think that a first year law student would learn that you don't miss deadlines the court sets. The only reason I can see for Coleman's high price leagal team to have done that repeatedly is Norm's sense of entitlement is contagious. What this means, or course, is that Coleman is planning to appeal his forthcoming loss the grounds he has had incompetent legal representation.

This may seem more than obvious to every one but Coleman and his parade of hacks. Now that Pawlenty has decided that he has no future in politics these two can start in on making the Big bucks again.

[DBtv]

The face of the republick party: sore losers in psychotic denial.

[Kuuba]

FFSAKES!!! Drop it already.

[ChelseaC]

Coleman---Go away please......


Welcome Senator Al Franken!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[RTIII]

I'm not certain but I _think_ the court can reject hearing the case. If so, that's what they should do.
.

[karenbe111]

It's all over but the crying, Norm...give it up! Face it, you are a losing Republican, and American voters are going to see that it stays that way!

[seenitall]

dude...how many ways do you want to be called a loser?? ?

[Kuuba]

lol that's probably the best way I've heard (read) it put.

[ChelseaC]

lol

[maisnon55]

Any old time a person loses, can he take it to court and take it to the next level no matter the findings of the last? Doesn't he have to have something new to be able to go to the next court? If not, this could be the beginning of Republicans NEVER "losing." I'm serious, it is the party that has him doing this, is this going to be a new way for them to not lose states that they don't want to lose?

Speaking of Replublicans and their dishonest, no-conscience ways, I occasionally remember what they did to Gray Davis...............we should do the same with Swarzeneggar, he has taken Ca. to bankruptcy, why don't we just kick him out?

Maybe to grow spiritually, one needs to learn how to live a life of integrity and compassion amidst Republicans.......perhaps that is our test on Earth.

[lynettema]

"Maybe to grow spiritually, one needs to learn how to live a life of integrity and compassion amidst Republicans.......perhaps that is our test on Earth."

You get the gold star today.

[waitforme]

Speaking of Schwartzenegger, I was thinking today about the one (1!) piece of resume Schwartzenegger touted when he ran for governor: 'I write checks! I write checks!' Presumably he wrote checks to his gardener, his -- who knows who else? Hairdresser? He never explained the significance of his statement, 'I write checks!' And it seems not to have given him any useful skills with which to run a state. He didn't try mediating between the sides about the budget. He has, am I imagining this? accepted only a $1/year salary; if this is true this should never happen again; it only makes the person think that since they are a 'volunteer' they really don't have to put in the work. His work is worth that much.)

As for Norm Coleman, a pea in the pod with Dick Cheney -- two people who cannot accept the results of an American, a democratic, election. Two anti-American actors both putting sand into the gears of the American government. Coleman's only goal seems to be to keep the Democrats from having another vote in the Senate. By the time Franken gets seated, maybe Coleman thinks, if he keeps this up, it will be about time for another Senate election.

[ChelseaC]

Well said.

[BushBites]

Keep it up, Bugs Bunny.

It just means your wife will have to keep putting out to get your donors to pay the legal bills.

[AmericanCanuck]

I was thinking more of Wile E. Coyote - keeps on trying, keeps on walking off of that cliff, blowing himself up, etc. etc. ad infinitum.

[kalidescopemind]

Maybe if he would have stayed a democrat, he would be a Senator today, but now he is just a sore loser!