Wisconsin Supreme Court rejects Trump lawsuit to toss out 220K votes in Milwaukee and Dane Counties
MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- Wisconsin's Electoral College ceremony came less than an hour after the Wisconsin Supreme Court handed the Trump campaign its latest defeat in the courts.
The decision ends a whirlwind of election lawsuits. The Trump campaign lost its recount challenge Friday, appealed to the Supreme Court and was heard Saturday, and the Supreme Court ruled Monday.
"We'll now proceed with voting for the next president and vice president of the United State," said Governor Tony Evers sitting as chair of Wisconsin's Electoral College.
The meeting nearly didn't happen. Just 58 minutes before, the Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected the Trump campaign's effort to toss more than 220,000 votes and overturn the election.
The justices ruled 4-3, the campaign's challenge lacked merit and was too late.
Justice Brian Hagedorn compared the case to a football game.
"Our laws allow the challenge flag to be thrown regarding various aspects of election administration. The challenges raised by the campaign in this case, however, come long after the last play or even the last game; the campaign is challenging the rule book adopted before the season began. Election claims of this type must be brought expeditiously," said Hagedorn.
Chief Justice Patience Roggensack said the court is punting on defining what the law is.
"In the case now before us, a significant portion of the public does not believe that the November 3, 2020, presidential election was fairly conducted. Once again, four justices on this court cannot be bothered with addressing what the satutes require to assure that absentee ballots are lawfully cast," said Roggensack.
The ruling allowed the Wisconsin Electoral College meeting to go forward, casting its votes for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
"The will of the people is the law of the land," said Evers.
Congress counts the electoral votes in January. Wisconsin lawmakers may look at the election code in the upcoming session.