Sandy Blunt's attorney had until midnight Tuesday to file for a rehearing in front of the North Dakota Supreme Court, after the court reinstated Blunt's two felony charges.

As of Tuesday afternoon, no request for rehearing was received, said Penny Miller, clerk.

Blunt's attorney, Michael Hoffman, was not in the office and did not return a phone message Tuesday afternoon.

Blunt, former executive director of Workforce Safety and Insurance, faces two felony charges of misapplication of public funds regarding spending on employee incentives and what prosecutors term as illegal bonuses for key agency executives.

In August 2007, South Central District Court Judge Robert Wefald dismissed the charges; in January, prosecutors appealed the decision and the North Dakota Supreme Court reversed Wefald's ruling on June 30.

A petition for rehearing must prove that a point of law or fact was misunderstood by the court.

Miller said she does not remember the last time a petition for rehearing was granted, saying it's been more than five years.

"It's a tough burden,"she said.

If a petition for rehearing is not received, an arraignment - where the defendant files a plea - will be scheduled on the district court level.

- Crystal R. Reid