The US Supreme Court by majority decision split 5-4 on some issues and 7-2 on others has barred a recount of votes in Florida on the ground that there is insufficient time to conduct one.
The court found that recounts must be completed by December 12th, midnight tonight US time or approx 6pm NZT.
The decision is being welcomed as a total victory by the George W. Bush legal team.
However a member of the Al Gore legal team talking on CNBC said there was possibly one matter within the decision which could still be taken back to the Florida Supreme Court for Act 3 of the legal drama.
(continuing…)