Coleman Delay Strategy Working? MN Ruling Extends Appeal Schedule

[babylonsister]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/04/minnesota-supremes-set-schedule-for-colemans-appeal----giving-him-more-time.php?ref=fp2

Minnesota Supremes Set Schedule For Coleman's Appeal -- Giving Him More Time
By Eric Kleefeld - April 24, 2009, 10:20AM


The Minnesota Supreme Court has just issued its order establishing a schedule for Norm Coleman's appeal of the Senate election result -- and even though this schedule has been expedited by the standards of normal civil litigation, it's going to be a while by political standards.

The court adopted the proposed briefing timeline from the Coleman campaign, allowing them more time to formulate their arguments: Coleman's brief is to be submitted by next Thursday, April 30; Team Franken will submit its brief by May 11, and a reply brief from Coleman is to be submitted by May 15.

On top of that, oral arguments have been scheduled for June 1 -- a month and a week from today.

Team Franken had called for a much quicker schedule, on the grounds that greater speed was needed in order to seat a second U.S. Senator from Minnesota, and that Coleman had already had plenty of time to come up with his arguments. But the court didn't go for it.

Indeed, by any normal measure this timeline is itself a quick one for a state Supreme Court to be taking an appeal. But for the political world, this is not a normal case.

Late Update: Lead Franken attorney Marc Elias gives us this comment: "We are grateful that the court has issued an expedited scheduling order, and we look forward to the process continuing to move forward so that Sen.-elect Franken can be seated as quickly as possible."

[ShortnFiery]

1. Where's "Give em hell" Senator Harry Reid? This is so UN-SAT. nt

[NNN0LHI]

3. Is Harry in charge of the Minnesota supreme court now?

Gosh, he sure is powerful.

Don

[MineralMan]

5. Elections are a state issue. Harry Reid is not involved

in Minnesota elections. Were he to seat Franken before the state process was finished, then there would be grounds for the SCOTUS to grant certiorari. If it goes until the state law is satisfied, there won't be such grounds.

This needs to be settled under Minnesota law or it will go to the SCOTUS for sure. Justice must not only be done, it must be seen as having been done.

More patience will be needed, but we will win in the end.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

2. Marc Elias - always the professional.

[MineralMan]

4. I'm an incorrigible fatalist, I guess.

This will grind on until justice is not only done, but is seen to have been done. The MN Supreme Court has set a schedule that nobody will be able to claim does not allow both sides to present their arguments.

It's too slow for my taste, of course, but it's not going to change. Al Franken will be seated at some point and Norm Coleman will go away. I wish it could be sooner, but there's no legal way for that to happen.

It was a close, close race. It will take whatever time it takes to be settled. I'm just glad the initial vote count was not the final one, you know...