Minnesota Independent

Former justice: High-court fill-ins will boost confidence in Senate ruling

By Chris Steller | 04.16.09 | 2:32 pm

If the Minnesota Supreme Court hears Norm Coleman’s appeal of Al Franken’s election victory, the justices would do well to fill seats on the bench that recusals leave empty with temporary help drawn from the ranks of retired justices and judges. That’s the opinion of Sandra Gardebring Ogren, a former associate justice, who says “a fuller court would increase public confidence in the decision.”

Franken camp confident of victory

By Paul Demko | 04.14.09 | 2:19 pm

Al Franken will be the next senator from Minnesota. That’s the message conveyed by Marc Elias, the Franken campaign’s lead recount attorney, on a conference call Tuesday afternoon. Not surprisingly, Elias…

And then there were two? Recusals in Coleman case could whittle state high court below quorum

By Chris Steller | 04.14.09 | 11:45 am

Pinch-hitters could be called up to help the Minnesota Supreme Court handle Norm Coleman’s election-contest appeal if more justices recuse themselves.

No Coleman ruling, and state Supreme Court won’t hear appeal (in Buffalo)

By Chris Steller | 04.10.09 | 4:55 pm

Three announcements from Minnesota courts this afternoon: First, there won’t be a ruling today on Norm Coleman’s legal challenge to the Senate-election recount that Al Franken won. Second, however, the three-judge panel now deliberating did throw out a separate voters’…

Justices Magnuson and Anderson will not hear Senate contest appeal

By Paul Demko | 04.08.09 | 12:20 pm

Minnesota Supreme Court justices Eric Magnuson and G. Barry Anderson will recuse themselves from any appeal in the U.S. Senate contest. The two justices were part of the five-member canvassing board that oversaw the statewide manual recount and determined that Al Franken won the contest by 225 votes. Because of this conflict, Magnuson (pictured) and Anderson have removed themselves from previous hearings before the state’s top court. John Kostouros, the court’s communications director, confirms that they are expected to withdraw from any proceedings going forward.

Minnesota Supreme Court won’t order election certificate for Franken

By Chris Steller | 03.06.09 | 2:52 pm

As Stuart Smalley would say, he’s good enough, he’s smart enough, but doggone it the Minnesota Supreme Court has refused Al Franken’s request that it order officials to issue him an election certificate (pdf).

Franken makes case to be seated before Supreme Court

By Paul Demko | 02.05.09 | 12:38 pm

Al Franken should be allowed to serve in the U.S. Senate while a legal contest over the results of the election is heard in state court. That was, in essence, the argument made by Franken’s lawyer in a hearing before the Minnesota Supreme Court this morning.