A flurry of motions (h/t The UpTake) is scheduled for the coming weeks.   Firstly, Norm Coleman, as the Contestant, must issue an answer to Contestee Franken’s counterclaims, and a response to Franken’s discovery requests, by 4:30 pm on January 19.  Next, there is the deadline for the disclosure of the identity of the expert witnesses on both sides; that’s January 20 at 4:30 pm.

Then we have Al Franken’s motion to dismiss the Coleman contest; the hearing on that comes up on next Wednesday, January 21, at 2:30 pm.  If he wins that one, then he can finally be seated.  If not, it’s on to the other motions: 

Briefs or motions for summary judgment, if any – due by 4:30 pm on January 21,  2009.

Franken’s response to Coleman’s discovery requests will be due "within three days of the service thereof", which I take to mean on January 22 sometime.   Lawyers, feel free to bop me on the head if this is wrong.

Summary judgment motions, if any – January 23 at 9:00 am.  A pre-trial status conference follows immediately afterward.

Lastly, there is the trial itself, set to start January 26.  Sounds like the three-judge panel wants this over quickly.

Oh, and the sixty-four Franken voters’ suit has been rolled into the election contest.  

Meanwhile, Norm’s apparently decided that he needs another high-powered attorney to add to his already-crowded lawyer stable, and this one’s a doozy:  Joe Friedberg.   However, while Friedberg is arguably the best lawyer in the Twin Cities, he’s also the lawyer for Norm’s good friend and donor Nasser Kazeminy, he of the Neiman-Marcus suits and the Texas lawsuit.  Crummy optics, Norm.