THE NINTH CIRCUIT HAS POSTPONED THE CALIFORNIA RECALL until March. Punch-card voting, apparently, is a violation of civil rights.

Is this a victory for Davis? Maybe. Maybe it’ll just extend the agony. Here’s a link to the opinion, via Election Law. I haven’t read it yet — it’s 66 pages.

UPDATE: Reader Mark Carstairs emails:

Since I moved to LA County 6 years ago, I have voted with punch cards. I voted for Bush in 2000 with a punch card. I voted against Davis in 2002 with a punch card. Please tell me why they suddenly care so much that they have to postpone this election by 5 months.

Hmm. Well, Calblog observes: “Not coincidentally, March is the Democratic primary, expected to increase Democratic turnout.” Porphyrogenitus comments: “Regular readers know I’m against the Recall on general principles. Still, three judges have decided that the voting machines which were good enough to elect and re-elect Grey Davis are too error prone to recall him. No partisan agenda there, I’m sure.”

Unless there’s some awfully compelling legal principle that’s not making it into the press accounts, I predict a reversal on this one. It’s just too explosive.

ANOTHER UPDATE: Robert Tagorda has lots more. And visit PrestoPundit, too. And Mickey Kaus is all over it, of course.