Florida Supreme Court, Here We Come
Jack Thompson
Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2000
Events, as predicted here yesterday, are moving toward a showdown over the secretary of state's order of a 5 p.m. deadline to certify the vote.
Team Gore is trying to lift that deadline in the Tallahasse courtroom of Leon County Circuit Judge Terry Lewis, who said he would rule on the deadline today at 11 a.m.
Judge Lewis appears to be a liberal. This bio tidbit is from the Associated Press: "In July 1999, Lewis ruled against the enforcement of a new state law that required doctors to notify parents of girls under 18 who were seeking abortions."
If Gore wins his legal challenge now before Judge Lewis, then Bush will
appeal. If Bush wins, Gore will appeal. No surprise there. But what should also come as no surprise is that the matter will ultimately wind up in the Florida State Supreme Court, which is heavily Democratic in its makeup. This Supreme Court is way, way to the left of the United States Supreme Court. Ideology may matter. It surely has to date.
The Los Angeles Times is reporting today that the Bush and Gore camps are seriously discussing a statewide hand count of the ballots. This reporter opined two days ago that this is what Bush should opt for, given the twin needs 1) to win and 2) to win in a way that does not de-legitimize his presidency.
In a phone conversation Friday evening with Eric Biermann, chief legal counsel to the Bush campaign in Florida, I informed him of the horrific technical inadequacies of the computer punch ballot system as proven in 1982 by California Attorney General John K. Van de Kamp. Nevertheless, Jim Baker has repeated the mantra that this is an accurate means of counting ballots, which is patently false.
Bottom line for now: Look for days more of litigation over the 5 p.m. Tuesday deadline issue.
Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Presidential Race 2000
