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Bush-Gore Arguments in US Supreme Court End
Lawyers for Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore concluded their oral arguments on Florida's disputed ballot recount Monday, December 11, before US Supreme Court justices who appeared divided in the case that could finally decide who becomes president of the United States.
The justices retired at the end of the 90-minute session without issuing an immediate ruling. With time running out in an election that has already run overtime, the court was expected to decide the case quickly.
At issue before the justices in the case entitled "Bush v.Gore" was a Florida Supreme Court ruling last Friday that ordered the immediate hand recounts of tens of thousands of ballots in Florida, and that required that the clear intent of the voter be discerned.
Bush and Gore lawyers argued their cases in the solemnity of the Supreme Court, urgently pressing rival claims about the suspended manual recount in Florida and the nation's overtime presidential election.
With lawyers for Bush and Gore vigorously questioned during the historic arguments, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, considered a key swing vote on the nine-member court, questioned the standard that had been adopted.
The atmosphere inside the courtroom stood in contrast to the noisy scene outside the building -- where demonstrators protested beneath the chiseled marble inscription "Equal Justice Under Law."
The US Supreme Court first heard arguments in the case on December 1. Justices unanimously set aside the Florida court ruling and sent the case back for clarification of why it allowed ballots to be recounted after the November 14 deadline set by the Florida secretary of state.
In response, the Florida Supreme Court issued a 4-3 decision last Friday ordering a hand recount of all undervotes statewide. Hours after the tally began last Saturday, the US Supreme Court voted 5-4 to grant Bush's request to halt the recount until the court determines its legality.
Both Bush and Gore need Florida's 25 electoral votes to put them over the 270 mark to win the presidency. The deadline for selecting the electors is December 12, and the Electoral College meets on December 18 to select the president.
US Supreme Court Hears Bush-Gore Arguments Lawyers for Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Al Gore laid out their oral arguments on Florida's disputed ballot recount Monday before the US Supreme Court, which already has shown its deep divisions in the case that could finally decide who will be the 43rd president of the United States.
At 11 a.m. EST (1600 GMT), the justices began a special 90- minute session to question lawyers for Bush and Gore on whether hand counting of ballots should resume in Florida's bitterly contested presidential election.
Both Bush and Gore need Florida's 25 electoral votes to put them over the 270 mark to win the presidency. The deadline for selecting the electors is December 12, and the Electoral College meets on December 18 to select the president.
Bush wants the justices to reverse last Friday's stunning Florida Supreme Court ruling ordering a hand recount of more than 40,000 "undervote" ballots -- those where machines could not decipher a vote for president.
Gore's lawyers contend that "voters have important rights to have their ballots counted." They want the justices to uphold the Florida court's order.
The court agreed to release a full audiotape of Monday's argument for broadcast shortly after its conclusion. But the justices stuck to their long-standing ban on television and still cameras inside the courtroom.
The atmosphere inside the courtroom stood in contrast to the noisy scene outside the building -- where demonstrators protested beneath the chiseled marble inscription "Equal Justice Under Law."
The court set no timetable for a ruling, but its decision to set oral arguments on such a quick timetable signaled its understanding of the importance of speed.
The US Supreme Court first heard arguments in the case on December 1. Justices unanimously set aside the Florida court ruling and sent the case back for clarification of why it allowed ballots to be recounted after the November 14 deadline set by the Florida secretary of state.
In response, the Florida Supreme Court issued a 4-3 decision last Friday ordering a hand recount of all undervotes statewide. Hours after the tally began last Saturday, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 to grant Bush's request to halt the recount until the court determines its legality.
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