Lawyers Invade Florida as Election Looms

 

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Lawyer David Boies argued on Gore's behalf after the 2000 election. Like Jan Baran, he worries about the effect of so many lawyers scrutinizing every twist and turn: "It's like an army," says Boies, "if you've got one you tend to use it. If you've got a lot of lawyers standing by, you tend to find a use for them and you could end up with a lot of unnecessary litigation."

Election law expert Richard Hasen, a professor at Loyola Law School in California, says lawyers are the new political reality. "I think election law has become more of a political strategy," he says. "When you plan your campaign -- at least on a national level -- you've got to take into account the possibility of some kind of litigation. If only defensively because the other side might try and do it."

Boies warns a close election could leave voters waiting days or weeks before a winner is declared.

Could it be Election 2000 all over again?

The only thing that will save the voters from the lawyers is a clear victory for one side or the other.