Franken proposes quicker trial than Coleman seeks

[struggle4progress]

Source: Star Tribune

Democrat Al Franken wants Coleman's legal challenge to the Senate recount to begin on Jan. 26 and last 15 days, an earlier start and shorter schedule than Coleman suggested.
By MIKE KASZUBA, Star Tribune staff writer
Last update: January 15, 2009 - 2:53 PM

Democrat Al Franken’s campaign today described a trial schedule proposed by Republican Norm Coleman as “rather leisurely” and instead proposed starting Coleman’s legal challenge in the U.S. Senate race on Jan. 26 and have it last 15 days.

Continuing what has been almost a daily back-and-forth between the two campaigns, Franken attorney Marc Elias said Coleman’s plan to start the trial Feb. 9 was a sign that Coleman would use the contest to try to uncover evidence that might swing more votes his way — as opposed to offering evidence the campaign already has that a recount approved by the state Canvassing Board was flawed. “They have a theory but they do not have a case,” Elias said in a conference call with reporters today.

“Now, with the new Senate addressing the Nation’s urgent business, Coleman still is not entirely sure what his case is about, so he proposes multiple trials that would begin on February 2, 9 and 16,” said a nine-page legal document filed by Franken.

On Wednesday, Coleman proposed separating the trial into five stages, with the first stage focusing on rejected absentee ballots, and indicated he might cut the trial short if any stage did not produce a “sufficient number of votes” needed to overcome Franken’s 225-vote lead ...

Read more: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/37656934.html?elr=KArksD:aDyaEP:kD:aU2EkP7K_t:aDyaEP:kD:aUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

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It’s a Trial Date Tango in Minnesota
By Emily Cadei, CQ Staff

... In Franken’s scheduling proposal, his legal team said the Coleman schedule “starts too late” and “takes too long.”

The trial, his attorneys wrote, “should take a maximum of three weeks,” and it should begin by Jan. 26. Minnesota law gives the court 20 days from the time an election challenge was filed to begin the trial. Coleman filed suit on Jan. 6.

The two campaigns are to meet Friday morning with the three-judge panel that will hear the case to discuss scheduling ...

Individual Minnesotans are also now jumping into the legal fray. On Jan. 13, 64 voters filed suit with the state Supreme Court claiming their absentee ballots were improperly rejected. The majority are reportedly Franken voters, and the Franken campaign said it is supporting, but is not party to the case. And Jan. 14, a group of Republican responded by announcing they would ask to join Coleman’s challenge, claiming they were disenfranchised because some votes were counted twice.

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003011687

Franken wants simple format for Senate challenge
By PATRICK CONDON

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — ... "We believe Norm Coleman has the right to go to court. We don't believe he has a right to use the process of going to court to delay the people of Minnesota having a new senator as soon as possible," Franken attorney Marc Elias said ...

Franken's court filing suggested the Coleman model would "take too long" and be "burdensome and inefficient." Multiple stages to the trial would force local election officials, some from far-flung parts of the state, to travel to St. Paul numerous times to testify instead of getting it all done in one trip, Franken's lawyer said.

Knaak said the two campaigns had been summoned to meet Friday morning with the panel, to discuss their timetable proposals and other issues concerning the trial. He said he didn't expect an immediate decision from the judges ...

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gMpTmr96V5hKIfyHT4Av4jsVQgrQD95NSJDG2

[book_worm]

1. Is Coleman considered a former Senator right now?

after all, the new senate was sworn in and his race is still to be decided, and chances are it will be decided in Frankens favor. So, Coleman is not a US Senator, or is he?

[VeraAgnes]

2. Former Senator at this phase...

The office he used has been locked-up.

[DCKit]

3. Obviously Coleman thinks he can keep it if he squats long enough.

Just another delusional, moronic Repuke - and a really sore loser to boot.

However, the Republics are, by example, one hella teaching tool for the little ones - but to make the lesson complete, there need to be consequences for every sleazy and illegal action.

[byronius]

4. All of this machination and wrangling will make the end result burn that much more.

I hope Norm Coleman bursts into tears on nationwide television.

[roguevalley]

11. his term expired. i think they are in limbo now. :(

[Froward69]

5. coleman is a slimeball

and a sore looser.

[rpannier]

6. They should go with Franken's suggestion of a couple of weeks ago

Seat him on a provisional basis so MN has 2 senators.
Then once the courts rule in his favor it can be official

I find it interesting that a man (Coleman) who has been whining about how his constituents are not being represented fully, does not support this.

What Coleman really wants is to be sitting in the senate getting paid for doing nothing useful

[brentspeak]

7. Norm is in denial. Can't accept reality.

[Mnpaul]

8. The law is the law

The trial is to start no later than 20 days after the filing. The makes for a Jan 26 start date.

[tanyev]

9. Maybe Normie would leave faster if he got a few shoes flung at him.

[Joe Bacon]

10. Norm, you're a...