The Colorado Supreme Court issued an explosive ruling disqualifying former United States President Donald Trump from the state ballot in the 2024 presidential race.
The Tuesday ruling was made over the Republican businessman's engagement in insurrection due to his actions leading up to the Jan. 6, Capitol Hill riot. The decision is expected to put the basic contours of next year's election in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trump Disqualified From Colorado Ballot
With the ruling, the Colorado Supreme Court becomes the first in the country to find that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment applies to Trump. That particular provision disqualifies people who engage in insurrection against the Constitution after taking an oath to support it.
The development directs the secretary of state of Colorado to exclude Trump's name from the Republican primary ballot in the state but does not address the general election. The four-justice majority wrote that they did not reach the conclusions lightly.
They added that they were mindful of the magnitude and weight of the questions that were placed before them. The justices also said that they were mindful of their solemn duty to apply the law without fear or favor and without being swayed by public reaction, as per the New York Times.
The former president's campaign immediately said after the ruling that it plans to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Colorado justices anticipated the possibility by putting their ruling on hold at least until Jan. 4.
If Trump appeals the decision before then, the hold will continue until the Supreme Court issues a ruling on the matter. Additionally, while the decision affects the former president's campaign in only one state, it could still force the highest court to decide the question for all 50.
An assistant professor of law at Georgia State University, Anthony Michael Kreis said that it was difficult for the Supreme Court not to take the case. If the justices of the highest court do take it, it would join the pile of other Trump-related matters that they have agreed to or are likely to decide.
A Series of Legal Challenges
Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung issued a statement saying that they would swiftly file an appeal to the Supreme Court. He added that they would file a concurrent request for a stay of the "deeply undemocratic decision," according to France24.
The Colorado Supreme Court's ruling comes after a group of voters challenged a previous ruling that Trump's involvement in the Capitol siege did not preclude his running for president again. That particular decision was based on the interpretation of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
The situation also comes after a liberal group on Monday appealed a ruling that keeps Trump on the ballot to the Michigan Supreme Court. The group, Free Speech For the People, appealed last week's ruling that said the Republican Party can place whomever they want on the ballot for its presidential primary, regardless of whether or not they are qualified for the office, said the Associated Press.
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