One would… but then, one wouldn’t have expected this charade to drag on as long as it has, would one? 
Order’s in … slam dunk for Franken!
http://www.courts.state.mn.us/opinions/sc/current/OPA090697-6030.pdf
Finally!
So, looking through it, I see that the PDF says, at the very end:
Does “is entitled … to receive the certificate of election” mean they’re “ordering” Pawlenty to sign it? Or will he be able to say he wasn’t ordered to sign it, so tough luck to Al? (His statements have always been to the effect that he will comply if ordered, haven’t they? Which kinda seemed to me like he’s trying to leave wiggle room. Hopefully I’m way off on this and it won’t matter in any case.) So has he been ordered to sign the certificate of election?
Sadly, I have no confidence that T-Paw won’t feel empowered to weasel it that way. Can’t Franken now petition the Court to issue a direct order, though?
I think “entitled under the law” means that the SC judges are saying that they have interpreted the law to mean that Franken gets his certificate … with the implication that if he doesn’t get a certificate, someone is not following the law.
I think.
Well, Pawlenty has said, prior to the decision, that he will sign it. But there are enough weasel words gflying around to make that a “wait until I see it” kind of thing.
A ha!
The last footnote of the order:
So, if T-Paw drags his feet, then a court clerk will do it for him!
Slam dunk reaffirmed!
He’s been saying stuff like, “I won’t defy an order,” but I don’t believe he’s clearly stated that he will sign it without a direct and unambiguous ordfer. I do think Franken can ask for one, though, so it might be pointless for Pawlenty to try to be too cute about it.
A few weeks ago, the rumors were flying that Coleman was out of money and wouldn’t appeal, but my suspicion then was that it was just his way of panhandling the party for more cash.
I won’t relax until Franken is seated in the Senate Chamber.
Harry Reid’s worst nightmare!
Chuckle, chuckle. Gloat, gloat.
Was it unanimous or does the MSSC not publish dissenting opinions?
My WAG: Pawlenty will stall, saying he hasn’t been ordered to do anything. Franken will file papers requesting that the court order Pawlenty to certify. Pawlenty will certify when he sees that summary judgment on Franken’s behalf is imminent.
Unanimous.
Amen, brother!
Technically, if the governor wishes, he can wait until the period to request a rehearing expires. That is ten days from the date of the filing of the SC’s opinion (Minn. R. Civ. App. P. 140.01). At that point, the SC has ordered the clerk to enter judgment in the appeal. Since the appeal was from a determination in the favor of Senator-elect Franken, that would mean that the governor would have no further excuse, since a legally binding determination would be staring him in the face.
The opinion is “per curiam”, which is fancy language meaning that no single justice is writing the opinion, but rather it is the opinion of the court in general. There was no dissent, so the result is unanimous.
We’re getting closer to having full representation of Minnesota.
So how much does Coleman owe Franken now?
Hell, if I were Amy Klobuchar I’d be suing Coleman for the doubled costs of being the sole Senate constituent-service office in the state for six months.
Fox’s headline will be " Franken’s Senate attempt brought to an end"