The Minnesota Supreme Court will hear arguments on Republican Norm Coleman’s appeal on June 1. Although Al Franken attorney Marc Elias wanted oral arguments to start as early as next week, the judges denied his motion and ordered Coleman’s appeal brief to be submitted by next Thursday, April 30. Franken’s side must respond by May 11, with another response by the Coleman team due May 15. The five justices will hear arguments about seven months after Election Day. Coleman appealed to the state Supreme Court after a three-judge panel ruled Franken the rightful winner of the empty Senate seat early last week. The Coleman team is arguing equal protection — stating that the judges were more strict in counting ballots than local election officials were on election night.