Attorneys in the election contest case regarding State Senate District 27 selected Judge Joseph Quinn of Anoka County District Court as presiding judge.

Quinn, the Chief Judge of the 10th Judicial District, will have a court hearing shortly, and will have to make a ruling by Jan. 7 when the session reconvenes.

State law requires a judge from another judicial district

to preside in an election contest case when the election district is across multiple counties’ jurisdiction.

The lawsuit was filed by former Austin City Councilor Tom Purcell, who supported Sen. Grace Schwab’s campaign. The Senate Republican Caucus is backing Purcell.

The State Canvassing Board determined that Schwab lost to DFLer Dan Sparks by 11 votes. But, Purcell’s attorney, Fritz Knaak, contends the board improperly handled 17 missing ballots in an Austin precinct and assigned 32 contested ballots inappropriately.

Sparks’ lawyer, Brian Rice filed an answer to the contest, defending the election result.