Imagine the following situation: a judge deciding an election using a deck.

And thats is precisely what the Judge George Preston did: in front of the two candidates, Thomas McGuire on the left, and Adam Trenker on the right side, shuffle a pack of cards. The goal of the game was nothing more, nothing less than determining which of the two would be a future member of the House of Councilors of the town of Cave Creek, Arizona.

The impasse occurred after the two received 660 votes each. The perfect tie after a recount was held. That was when the judge decided to resolve the local unusual situation, using a deck of cards.

The deck was mixed six times, without the wildcards. McGuire, 64, a retired science professor, took a six of hearts. Then Trenker, 25, student of law, got a king of hearts – and received the audience’s screams and then wave to the camera.

This story reminds a relapse to the old traditions in the electoral decision of this city in western Arizona.

And the decision was fully legal. The Constitution of the State allows a game to be used to overcome the impasse, and both candidates agreed to take the destiny in letters. The other alternative would be a duel in which someone with the fastest trigger would be considered the winner.

Via: NYT.