Lawsuit to seat Florida's Democratic delegates gets March 17th hearing date

As pressure mounts over what to do with Florida's Democratic delegates - a Tampa attorney announced Thursday afternoon that a lawsuit he filed to reinstate Florida's delegate voting rights at the Democratic National Convention will be heard before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals on March 17th.

Attorney Michael Steinberg filed the lawsuit on behalf of Tampa resident Victor DiMaio, a political consultant and registered Democrat. The lawsuit was filed in August 2007, but ruled against in a Tampa district court. Steinberg argues that the DNC's decision to remove Florida's delegates violates the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment.

"This was not fair to the average ordinary citizen who didn't have a say ," Steinberg said at a press conference in front of the Old Capitol building in Tallahassee.

The appeal hearing was initially scheduled for April, with four other cases scheduled on the same date, but a couple of weeks ago Steinberg said he received notification that the hearing would be moved up to March,and would be the only case on the docket to allow for more time.

DiMaio says the purpose of the lawsuit is not to favor either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton, noting that the lawsuit was initially filed when there were more contenders in the race. He added that he would also file a lawsuit of the Florida Democratic Party decided to fund another primary election in the state.

"I'm sure the New England Patriots would like another do-over in the Superbowl," DiMaio said. "It's done, its over with."

Steinberg and DiMaio said they are willing to take their case all the way to the Supreme Court if necessary.

Comments

[Nicki]

Seat the delegates! Howard Dean does not have the authority to disenfranchise two million voters.