[Vision2020] Minnesota State Supreme Court Rules for Franken

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota) at:

http://tinyurl.com/mu8fdm

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State Supreme Court rules for Franken, 5-0

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled today that Democrat Al Franken won the
U.S. Senate election and said he was entitled to an election certificate
that would lead to him being seated in the Senate.

"Affirmed," wrote the Supreme Court, unanimously rejecting Republican Norm
Coleman's claims that inconsistent practices by local elections officials
and wrong decisions by a lower court had denied him victory.

"Al Franken received the highest number of votes legally cast and is
entitled [under Minnesota law] to receive the certificate of election as
United States Senator from the State of Minnesota," the court wrote.

In upholding a lower court ruling in April, the justices said Coleman had
"not shown that the trial court's findings of fact are clearly erroneous
or that the court committed an error of law or abused its discretion."

The justices also said that neither the trial court nor local elections
officials violated constitutional rights to equal protection, a
cornerstone of Coleman's case and any possible federal appeal.

Coleman neither claims nor produced any evidence that the differing
treatment of absentee ballots among jurisdictions during the election was
the result of intentional or purposeful discrimination against individuals
or classes.

"Coleman neither claims nor produced any evidence that the differing
treatment of absentee ballots among jurisdictions during the election was
the result of intentional or purposeful discrimination against individuals
or classes," the court said.

It added that the trial court -- a three-judge panel -- didn't
discriminate against individuals or classes when it excluded certain types
of absentee ballots from being counted.

There was no immediate reaction from the campaigns of Franken or Coleman.

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Al Franken with his wife Franni by his side addressed the media on Monday
after The state Canvassing Board certified the results of the U.S. Senate
recount this afternoon, showing Democrat Al Franken with a 225-vote
advantage over incumbent Republican Norm Coleman.

http://tinyurl.com/SenatorAlFranken

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"Senator Al franken (Democrat, Minnesota)"

DAMN!  That sounds good!

Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

- Unknown