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DECEMBER 4, 2000

The United States Supreme Court today has vacated, or set aside, a Florida decision which extended the state's certification date in order to include updated manual recounts.

In their ruling, the Court's unanimous decision questioned the exact justification the Florida Supreme Court used to extend the state's certification of the Presidential race. The Court has remanded, or returned, the case back to the Florida court so that the court can provide a clearer reasoning on how they came to the decision.

At this point, the Florida court would have to clarify if it relied on federal or state law to come to its decision. During the Supreme Court hearing last week, some Justices questioned why they should be involved in the first place.

Justice Ruth Ginsberg, in particular, pointed out that the Court has given great deference to state's rights.

The ruling helps Texas Governor George W. Bush because it raises questions on the Florida court's original ruling and could effectively turn back the election calendar to November 14, the state's original certification date.

But it may not immediately affect Vice President Al Gore's election contest because state law says challenges to elections must come after certification. However, depending on any deadlines imposed by state law regarding contests, Gore's challenge may have come too late.

In response, a Florida judge who was set to decide today if 14,000 disputed ballots should be manually recounted said he would postpone his own decision to weigh the effects of the Supreme Court ruling.

Get the Decision:
Bush v. Palm Beach County Canvassing Board et. al (US Sup Ct 531 US ___ 2000)

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