Sen. Norm Coleman, R-MN, speaks on the second day of the Republican National Convention at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minnesota on September 2, 2008. (UPI Photo/Brian Kersey) | License Photo

Sen. Norm Coleman, R-MN, speaks on the third day of the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, on September 3, 2008. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg) | License Photo

Al Franken (R) and his wife Franni pose with his USO-Merit Award at the USO Annual Awards dinner in Arlington, Virginia on March 25, 2009. (UPI Photo/Alexis C. Glenn) | License Photo

Al Franken accepts the USO-Merit Award at the USO Annual Awards dinner in Arlington, Virginia on March 25, 2009. (UPI Photo/Alexis C. Glenn) | License Photo

WASHINGTON, March 30 (UPI) -- A top U.S. Senate Republican says it's OK by him if it takes years to settle Minnesota's Senate contest between Democrat Al Franken and Republican Norm Coleman.

A three-judge Minnesota court panel is expected to rule shortly on legal challenges resulting from the November election, which was close enough to trigger a recount that ended with Franken, a comic writer, leading Coleman, a lawyer who held the seat the past six years, by 225 votes.


Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas -- chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which oversees Senate campaigns for GOP candidates -- has acknowledged the legal process could take years, Politico reported Monday. Cornyn said Coleman deserves to pursue all legal options even if it means no one represents Minnesota in Coleman's former seat until the next election in 2014, Politico said.

An attorney for Coleman has said he expects the court to rule against Coleman in the current legal round but thinks Coleman could win in an appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court.

Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. -- chairman of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee -- says the Senate seat will be filled as soon as the Minnesota Supreme Court decides the matter.

However, Cornyn argues the matter could still be brought to the U.S. Supreme Court -- or a new case could be brought in federal court -- and he says Minnesota could not certify a winner until the federal courts dispose of the case.