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Dec. 1 The U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments from both the Bush and Gore camps on the Florida recount. |
Dec. 2 Florida Circuit Judge N. Sanders Sauls holds a trial to consider Gore's request for a hand count of 14,000 contested ballots in Democratic-leaning Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. |
| Dec. 4 The U.S. Supreme Court sets aside a state high court ruling that allowed selective manual recounts in Florida's presidential election and sends the case back for further proceedings. Florida Judge N. Sanders Sauls dismisses Al Gore's bid for a recount of thousands of contested ballots and refuses his request to overturn George W. Bush's certified statewide victory. |
| Dec. 6 Atlanta U.S. Court of Appeals denies Bush appeal to throw out manual recounts in Florida. |
| Dec. 7 Florida Supreme Court hears arguments from both Al Gore and George W. Bush's lawyers in the vice president's appeal of Florida Circuit Court Judge Sauls' ruling. |
| Dec. 8 The Florida Supreme Court rules in favor of Al Gore and orders an immediate manual recount of ballots statewide. Two Florida circuit court judges reject a request by Al Gore's campaign to throw out absentee ballots in Seminole and Martin counties. |
| Dec. 9 Florida begins a statewide manual recount of undervote ballots. An Atlanta federal appeals court rules in favor of hand counts but says that new tallies can not be certified until the U.S. Supreme Court gives permission. U.S. Supreme Court grants Bush request to halt Florida recounts until the court acts on his appeal. |
Dec. 11 U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments from both the Bush and Gore camps on the Florida recount. |
| Dec. 12 In a 79-41 vote, the Republican-run Florida House approves 25 electors pledged to George W. Bush. The Florida Supreme Court upholds two state court rulings that allow 25,000 absentee ballots to remain in the state's official vote tally. |
| Dec. 12 10 p.m. The U.S. Supreme Court votes 5-4 to overturn the Florida Supreme Court ruling that called for manual recounts. The case was remanded to the Florida court "for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion." |
Dec. 13 p.m. George W. Bush pledges to heal the wounds inflicted by the bitter, five-week, post-election battle for the White House. An hour before Bush spoke, Al Gore conceded the election to the Texas governor. |
