A step-by-step forecast: Franken will likely be seated by May or June

By Eric Black
MinnPost
Published Mon, Apr 13 2009

We, the denizens of Franken-Coleman Recountland, are back in a holding pattern, although this one could be over any minute.

Any day now -- personally I'm thinking it will be tomorrow, but don't rule out later today -- TheThreeJudges will issue an order ending the current chapter known as the Contest Trial. We, the recount-obsessed, all seem to think we know what the order will say. I agree with the conventional wisdom on that one, that the ruling will be favorable to Al Franken. This will be an important step, and the odds continue to favor the eventual seating of Franken in the Senate as they have ever since he took the lead during the State Canvassing Board phase.

Those who are impatient and anxious for that day may be frustrated to contemplate the number of potential steps still remaining and the number of opportunities for delay or a sudden reversal of fortune. They are all longshots, but numerous.

One thing you really should know, but it's hard to learn because so much of the commentary seems to want to lead us to another conclusion: The likeliest outcome -- no matter whether Team Coleman takes their case to the U.S. Supreme Court and/or tries to get a fresh start in federal district court -- is that Franken will be seated in the Senate in roughly May or June.

(More here.)