Colorado court rules that Trump is disqualified from 2024 ballot
The Colorado Supreme Court has declared that Donald J. Trump is barred from running for office again. On Tuesday, the court upheld the contention that the 14th Amendment renders him ineligible, a verdict that might significantly impact the 2024 election.
In a detailed judgment, the court instructed Colorado's secretary of state to remove Mr. Trump from the Republican primary ballot. This decision overruled a previous judgment by a Denver district judge, who had concluded that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment — barring individuals who have participated in an insurrection against the Constitution after swearing to uphold it from holding office — did not pertain to the presidency.
The justices agreed with the district judge's other principal findings: Mr. Trump's actions leading up to and on January 6, 2021, amounted to participation in an insurrection, and courts are authorized to enforce Section 3 against someone not explicitly named by Congress.
The court, in a 4-3 decision, stated: "President Trump is disqualified from the presidential office under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. As he is disqualified, it would be unlawful for the Colorado Secretary of State to list him as a presidential primary candidate."
The majority emphasized the gravity of their decision, acknowledging the significant implications and their responsibility to impartially apply the law, irrespective of public opinion.
In related news, Trump faces an indictment related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Filed by special counsel Jack Smith in a federal district court in Washington, the indictment includes four charges:
- The indictment describes a direct threat to American democracy, highlighting Trump's disruption of the peaceful transfer of power.
- Trump is depicted as the central figure in three conspiracies aiming to obstruct Congress on January 6, 2021, and to invalidate the Electoral College results. Proving Trump's awareness of the falsity of his claims about a stolen election is crucial.
- The indictment mentions six unnamed co-conspirators, believed to be Trump's lawyers and advisers, who supported his efforts to retain power through extreme conspiracy and legal theories.
- Despite the indictments, Trump's political influence remains substantial among Republican voters, keeping him as a leading candidate for the presidential primaries.
Trump's campaign has announced plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. While Tuesday's ruling is currently confined to Colorado, a Supreme Court affirmation could extend his disqualification. The Colorado Supreme Court has postponed its ruling until January 4, 2024, allowing time for an appeal. The ruling may be delayed further as the appeal process continues.