DNC prevails: Can refuse to seat Florida delegates

A federal judge in Tallahassee has ruled against Bill Nelson's (and others') lawsuit against the DNC that would seek to override the national party's refusal to seat its delegates. The national party disenfranchised Floridians in a dispute over Florida's early primary date.

"Florida has to comply with the same rules and procedures as everybody else, and does not get to have its own way," said U.S.District Court Judge Robert Hinkle following an hour-long hearing.
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The judge ruled from the bench and is expected to issue an order Monday disposing of the suit.

But there's another suit, filed Tuesday. Details after the jump.

Jon Ausman of Tallahassee, a member of the DNC, argues in his separate action that the primary move violates the constitution's provisions of free speech and assembly, and seeks to move the primary date to one acceptable to the national party.

Ausman's suit, filed in Leon County Circuit Court, claims the early primary is unconstitutional because it ultimately prevented Florida's Democratic delegates from participating in the party's national convention next year.

The lawsuit takes the opposite approach of one filed six weeks ago in federal court by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. That suit blames the national party for keeping delegates from the convention and seeks to restore their presence at the convention, but would maintain the Jan. 29 primary date.
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Stay tuned.