Puerto Rico: Rossello may ask for en banc rehearing
AP reports: The pro-statehood candidate for governor said Friday he might ask a federal appeals court to reconsider its ruling that undermined his efforts to throw out thousands of disputed ballots favoring his rival in the extremely close Nov. 2 election.
Former Gov. Pedro Rossello said his lawyers have recommended asking the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston to reverse the ruling, which gave Puerto Rico's Supreme Court, not a federal judge on the island, jurisdiction over the ballots.
The ruling was a defeat for Rossello because Puerto Rico's Supreme Court already declared the votes valid in an earlier lawsuit. Rossello had asked U.S. District Judge Daniel Dominguez to throw them out.
The votes mostly favor Anibal Acevedo Vila, who supports keeping Puerto Rico's status as a U.S. commonwealth.
A three-judge panel made the ruling Wednesday, and Rossello said he might ask the full six-judge court to reconsider. Although he acknowledged the effort might have little chance for success, Rossello said he wanted to make clear his disagreement with the ruling. -- BostonHerald.com - Local/ Regional News: Puerto Rico: Pro-statehood candidate may ask 1st Circuit to reconsider