Chief Justice will recuse himself from Coleman contest

Minnesota Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Magnuson will recuse himself from participating in Norm Coleman’s legal contest of the U.S. Senate race, according to John Kostouros, Communications Director for the state’s Court Information Office. Under Minnesota law, the Chief Justice is charged with naming a three-judge panel to oversee the legal dispute. But since Magnuson served on the five-member State Canvassing Board that oversaw the recount, which gave challenger Al Franken a 225-vote lead, he will pass that duty on to justice Alan Page. Magnuson also recused himself from earlier hearings before the state’s top court.