In an unprecedented ruling on Tuesday, the Colorado Supreme Court ousted former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 ballot, citing the 14th Amendment’s “insurrectionist ban” and delivering a 4-3 decision.
The ruling will be temporarily suspended until January 4, pending Trump’s appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. This appeal could have far-reaching implications, potentially settling the matter nationwide. The court’s decision focuses on Trump’s alleged involvement in the January 6, 2021, insurrection, affirming a trial judge’s determination while overturning her conclusion that the ban doesn’t extend to the presidency.
While the decision’s immediate impact is confined to Colorado, its historical significance is expected to reverberate through the 2024 presidential campaign. The urgency of the situation is underscored by the January 5 deadline for Colorado election officials to finalize the list of candidates for the GOP primary.
Trump’s campaign swiftly condemned the ruling as deeply flawed, expressing confidence in a favorable outcome from the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump himself denies any wrongdoing related to January 6 and views the 14th Amendment lawsuits as an abuse of the legal process. Currently facing federal and state indictment for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election, Trump has pleaded not guilty.
On the campaign trail, Trump portrays these lawsuits as an orchestrated effort to obstruct his return to the White House, given his frontrunner status for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. The 14th Amendment, ratified post-Civil War, prohibits officials who engaged in insurrection from holding future office, but its application to the presidency remains a contentious issue.
In response to the ruling, the Trump campaign vowed to file a swift appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court and seeks a stay on the Colorado decision. The campaign also launched a fundraising effort, characterizing the decision as election interference and alleging a plot to nullify “Trump ballots” nationwide to maintain President Biden in the White House.
“Please make a contribution to join the fight to keep my name on the 2024 ballot and peacefully defend YOUR right to vote,” the email said.
For further details, you can read the complete ruling below.
