Bush v. Gore
GEORGE W. BUSH, et al., PETITIONERS v. ALBERT GORE, Jr., et al. (Order List: 531 US, Case No: 00-949) was a controversial Supreme Court case heard on 11 December 2000 that some say decided the outcome of the 2000 United States presidential election between Texas Governor George W. Bush and Vice President Al Gore. In the end, the court decided a recount of the votes in Florida was not feasable within the current statute and that, as first counted, electoral votes from Florida should go to George W. Bush.The case was first taken up on 1 December after the Bush campaign appealed to the high court after the Florida Supreme Court's more liberal judges ordered the recount process in Florida to proceed. On 4 December, the court nullified the decision of the Florida Supreme Court saying that the court's decision to bypass state election laws, which stated that results had to be certified by a certain date, was dubious at best saying that there was "considerable uncertainty" as to the precise grounds for their ruling.
The decision, handed down around 10pm on 12 December 2000 for the split 5-4 court, was written by Chief Justice William Rehnquist, with Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas concurring and Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and Anthony Kennedy in the majority. Justices Stephen Breyer, David Souter, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and John Paul Stevens dissented.
The case determined that the Florida recount was being conducted unconstitutionally and in the majority opinion noted significant problems in the uneven way the votes were being recounted. Seven of the nine justices agreed that the recount was not constitutional but the minority dissented on the remedy. Ultimately, it was decided no constitutionally valid recount could be completed by the 12 December deadline set in statute. The court cited differing vote-counting standards from county to county and the lack of a single judicial officer to oversee the recount, both of which violated the equal-protection clause of the United States Constitution.
The case was shrouded in controversy as the majority versus minority opinion was split along the lines of the more conservative justices voting in favor of Bush and the more liberal justicies voting in favor of Gore. Additionally, part of the reason recounts could not be completed was due to various stoppages ordered by the various branches and levels of the judiciary.
The minority dissents noted these issues and others including the principle of fairness, and the conflicting laws which could be interpreted as invalidating the 12 December deadline. It appears the minority would have wished to allow the recount to continue up until the college of electors were mandated to meet on 18 December.
References:
dear > costly
7 The sea to him voluntarily brings,
a great > [as great a]
9 As was in all the land of Faery, or elsewhere.
304.24
Thereto he was a doughtie dreaded knight.html">knight,
That none in equall armes him matchen might,
Least his too haughtie hardines might reare
For thy she oft him counseld to forbeare
But after all his warre, to rest.html">rest his wearie knife.html">knife.
2 scath > scathe _1609_
1 Thereto he was a doughty dreaded knight,
Thereto > Moreover, also
2 Tried often to the scathe of many dear,
Tried > Tested [in his prowess]
dear > grievously
3 That none in equal arms him match might,
That > [Such that; so that]
might > could
4 Which, his mother seeing, began to fear
began > [she began]
5 Lest his too haughty hardiness might rear
haughty > high; proud, arrogant
7 For-thy she oft him counselled to forbear
For-thy > For this reason
8 The bloody battle and to stir up strife,
to stir up > [the stirring up of]
9 But, after all his war, to rest his weary knife.
knife > sword
304.25
And for his more assurance.html">assurance, she inquir'd
(For _Proteus_ was with prophecie inspir'd)
And the sad.html">sad end of her sweet _Marinell_.
Bad her from womankind to keepe him well:
A virgin strange and stout him should dismay, or kill.
assurance > security
2 One day of Proteus, by his mighty spell
Proteus > (The Old Man of the Sea, a god who can foretell the future
spell > occult power
3 (For Proteus was with prophecy inspired)
5 And the sad end of her sweet Marinell.
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