Minn. Court Rejects Franken Bid to Be Seated

By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Mar 6, 2009 3:04 PM CST
Minn. Court Rejects Franken Bid to Be Seated
Former Republican Sen. Norm Coleman looks at a paper during the Senate vote recount trial.   (AP Photo)

The Minnesota Supreme Court today rejected Democrat Al Franken's petition for an election certificate that would put him in the US Senate without waiting for a lawsuit to be resolved. Franken is ahead of Republican Norm Coleman by 225 votes. Coleman's ongoing lawsuit argues some uncounted absentee ballots were wrongly rejected.

Franken sued to force Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Secretary of State Mark Ritchie to sign an election certificate, arguing that federal law required it. But the state Supreme Court disagreed. In their ruling today, justices said states aren't required to issue such certificates by the date that Congress convenes. (More Al Franken stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X