Trump Faces Ineligibility Ruling in Colorado for 2024 Election
The Colorado Supreme Court’s decision on Tuesday deemed former US President Donald Trump ineligible for the state’s 2024 presidential ballot under the 14th Amendment’s “insurrectionist ban.” This historic 4-3 ruling, expected to face a challenge in the US Supreme Court, is a direct result of Trump’s alleged role in the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021.
The court order, while specific to Colorado, has potential implications for Trump’s candidacy in the broader context of the November 5 general elections. Despite its influence on Colorado’s Democratic status, with expectations of President Joe Biden winning the state, this ruling sets a precedent by disqualifying Trump as the first US presidential candidate under the provision prohibiting involvement in “insurrection or rebellion.”
The Colorado Supreme Court’s opinion highlights that Trump not only incited the insurrection but continued to support it by urging Vice President Mike Pence to reject his constitutional duty and by encouraging Senators to halt the electoral vote counting. The court deems these actions as “overt, voluntary, and direct participation in the insurrection.”
Furthermore, the court asserted that Trump’s January 6 speech was not protected by the First Amendment’s freedom of speech. Trump has vowed to appeal the ruling in the US Supreme Court, and the Colorado court has delayed the effect of its decision until at least January 4, 2024, to accommodate potential appeals.
This ruling sets the stage for the US Supreme Court, with its conservative majority, to determine Trump’s eligibility for another presidential term. The lawsuit is regarded as a test case for broader efforts to disqualify Trump from state ballots under the 14th Amendment’s section 3, enacted post-Civil War to prevent confederacy supporters from serving in the government.
Acknowledging the weight of the decision, the Colorado court’s majority emphasized its duty to apply the law impartially. Trump’s campaign has labeled the ruling as “undemocratic” and intends to file a swift appeal to the United States Supreme Court. This decision overturns a lower court’s ruling that, while finding Trump engaged in insurrection, did not disqualify him under the amendment due to his status as president.
