In his second attempt to secure a Senate election certificate - after being denied one from Minnesota's governor and secretary of state - Democrat Al Franken requested the Minnesota Supreme Court on Tuesday to force state officials to issue him document.

The signed certificate has not been issued by the Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and Democratic Secretary of State Mark Ritchie because a lawsuit filed by his opponent, Republican Norm Coleman, is not resolved as yet.

Since the legal challenge from Coleman - contesting a recount that had Franken up by 225 votes - may take months to run its course, the petition filed by Franken is intended at getting him to the Senate without waiting that long.

Marc Elias, Franken's attorney, said that the request does not have anything to do with stopping the court case from going forward, it is filed with the view that the Democrat should not be kept out of the Senate, while the proceedings take their course.

Elias said: "Right now every other state has two United States senators except for Minnesota. What we are seeking is to ensure Minnesota has a full voice, not a half a voice, but a full voice in the United States Senate during the pendency of this contest."

Meanwhile, Coleman's attorneys said Franken was making efforts to dodge Minnesota law that protects the will of voters. Moreover, the attorney refuted the allegation that Coleman is playing a delaying game; rather he counter-accused Franken of "a warping of the process."