Judge Dan Vaughn in St. Lucie County has ruled that under Florida statutes, he does not have the authority to either to grant the plaintiff (Allen West) their request for a full recount of early votes in this race, or to order the canvassing board of St. Lucie County to do so.

This hearing is taking place on the same day that the St. Lucie Canvassing Board is deciding whether to do a partial or full retabulation of early votes cast ahead of election day.

UPDATE: Apropos of nothing, I found it amusing that Judge Vaughn has a small figurine of a pug dog wrapped in an American flag sitting on prominent display in front of him for all to see. Hee hee!

For more, pat the Judge's pug on the head, and leap over the orange squiggle of justice.