Bush v. Gore

Bush v. Gore, 531 U.S. 98 (2000), is a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court.

The 2000 presidential election between George W. Bush and Al Gore came down to Florida. After a machine recount showed Bush leading by 537 votes, Gore requested manual recounts in four counties. The Florida Supreme Court ordered a statewide manual recount. Bush petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to stop the recount, arguing that the lack of uniform standards violated the Equal Protection Clause.

Significance

The per curiam 5-4 opinion halted the recount, effectively deciding the 2000 presidential election in Bush’s favor. The Court held that the Florida Supreme Court’s recount order violated the Equal Protection Clause because it lacked uniform standards for determining voter intent across different counties. In a controversial limiting statement, the Court said ‘our consideration is limited to the present circumstances’ — suggesting the decision should not serve as precedent. The decision remains one of the most controversial in the Court’s history due to its direct impact on a presidential election.

Category

US Federal Case Law