Ohio suits
The New York Times reports: The United States Supreme Court declined early on Tuesday morning to accept an invitation to intervene in the 2004 presidential election.
Later on Tuesday, courts in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania issued rulings on two of the most contested legal issues in this year's election: who, aside from voters and officials, may be present in polling places and who can vote by provisional ballot.
The Supreme Court ruling was by Justice John Paul Stevens, who is designated to hear emergency appeals from the federal appeals court in Cincinnati. Justice Stevens refused to suspend a decision issued hours before by the appeals court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. The appeals court ruled late on Monday night that Ohio Republicans could enter polling places to challenge voters there.
The appellate decision reversed rulings from two Ohio district judges that had barred the challengers. -- The New York Times > Washington > Election 2004 > Legal Issues: Justice Lets Ohio Ruling on Monitors at Polls Stand **