Coleman V. Franken - 20 Minutes Today

Saint Paul, Minnesota (RFN)
By Marty Owings

There was roughly twenty minutes of court today including brief testimony before the three Judge panel called it a day. There were considerable backroom negotiations taking place today in an effort to agree on which ballots would be accepted by the two parties.

Last week the Court excluded twelve categories of rejected absentee ballots which narrowed the total number of ballots to be reconsidered from 4500 to roughly 3500. This is considered a blow to the Coleman case since, in theory, it reduces the number of opportunities in which they might pick up additional votes. And with Franken leading by roughly 250 votes, some experts think it would be very difficult for the Coleman side to overcome that lead.

Coleman's attorneys have asked the judges to reverse their ruling and now want them to consider counting rejected ballots in the same way others were tallied. Their argument is based on the fact that about 100 ballots in the excluded 12 categories would have been accepted as part of the Canvasing Boards recount last month.

Much of this legal maneuvering may be setting up a future appeal if the Coleman campaign loses their challenge. David Shultz, a Hamline Law Professor believes that would be a long shot, but added "its a first step if they're thinking of doing an appeal."

The Court would like both sides to find ways to shorten the process. Judge Hayden today mentioned that the short session would give both parties time to continue negotiations.
The trial resumes tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m.
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