The judge in Chris McDaniel’s lawsuit challenging his Republican primary loss to incumbent Sen. Thad Cochran expressed doubts Wednesday that a trial can be finished before the Nov. 4 general election. Special Judge Hollis McGehee told lawyers for McDaniel and Cochran he feels compelled to quickly hold trial on McDaniel’s challenge of his June 24 GOP Senate runoff to Cochran, but the case is complicated and unprecedented. McGehee said Tuesday he’ll set a trial schedule by the end of the week. He said trial will likely begin Sept. 15 or Sept. 22. McGehee scheduled an Aug. 28 hearing on motions Cochran’s lawyers plan to file to have the case dismissed.
“This is a completely unique proceeding,” said McGehee, a retired judge specially appointed to hear the case by the state Supreme Court. “None of us are aware of a complete statewide election challenge before. … We’re trying to get our hands and our minds around the process and evidence that might come from … all 82 counties.”
In a GOP primary that pitted Tea Party conservatives against establishment Republicans on both the state and national level, McDaniel narrowly defeated Cochran in a June 3 primary. But he failed to garner enough votes to avoid a runoff June 24, which Cochran won by 7,667 votes.
Full Article: Judge doubts Miss. challenge can be decided by Nov. 4.