Image by Ken Hawkins/TheDigitelImage by 20090604-ruling.jpg The conclusion from the court's ruling.

The South Carolina Supreme Court voted unanimously in favor of orderig Governor Mark Sanford to apply for the $700 million in federal stimulus money largely for our state's schools and law enforcement.

Read more stories on this subject in our stimulus pacakge topic page.The justices also issued a rare writ of mandamus ordering Sanford to apply for the money.

Here's the conclusion from the justice's ruling:

Our decision today should not be construed as a comment on the policy differences between Governor Sanford and the General Assembly respecting the wisdom or necessity of South Carolina accepting the SFS funds. Under our limited role, the matter is presented to us as one of statutory construction of the ARRA and the application of settled state separation of powers principles. We discharge our duty to honor the rule of law, nothing more.

We issue a writ of mandamus compelling the Governor of South Carolina to comply with the law as set forth above.

The State has a little more on this pivotal ruling.

While Sanford could appeal the ruling in federal court, he had early said that he would let the S.C. Supreme Court ruling be the final word.