DEVELOPING

Senator Franken?

Wins court decision; Coleman to appeal.

Great news for Democrat Al Franken out of Minnesota: A three-judge panel has ruled the Senate challenger has defeated Republican incumbent Norm Coleman for the state’s remaining seat. Franken should be given the election certificate that permits him to take his seat in the U.S. Senate, the panel ruled. The Coleman camp responded immediately, saying it would appeal. “More than 4,400 Minnesotans remain wrongly disenfranchised by this court’s order,” Coleman attorney Ben Ginsberg said. “By its own terms, the court has included votes it has found to be ‘illegal’ in the contest to remain included in the final counts from Election Day.” Next the case will head to the Minnesota Supreme Court, where a decision is not expected until the end of May. At that point, Politico reports, “the loser has a choice—seek review from the U.S. Supreme Court or wage a new battle in federal district court.”