Colorado court bans Donald Trump from state ballot over his role in January 6 insurrection.
Donald Trump campaign criticized the ruling as 'undemocratic' and promised to appeal the decision.
On Tuesday, the Colorado Supreme Court barred Donald Trump from the state's 2024 ballot, citing his involvement in the January 6 Capitol insurrection. The court based its decision on the 14th Amendment's "insurrectionist ban," disqualifying those engaged in insurrection or rebellion from holding public office. This 4-3 ruling marks the first victory among numerous lawsuits against Trump, filed by six Colorado voters through Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and two law firms. Notably, all Colorado Supreme Court justices, appointed by Democratic governors, participated, with three dissenting from the majority's decision to remove Trump from the primary ballot.
Despite the ruling, its implementation is postponed until January 4, pending Trump's appeal to the US Supreme Court. The majority of the court asserted that Trump is disqualified from the presidency under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, stating it would be a wrongful act under the Election Code for the Colorado Secretary of State, Jena Griswold, to list him as a candidate on the presidential primary ballot. The court emphasized the gravity of the decision and its commitment to applying the law impartially.
Additionally, the court explicitly instructed Secretary of State Jena Griswold not to list Trump's name on the 2024 presidential primary ballot or count any write-in votes for him. In response, the Trump campaign promptly declared their intention to file an appeal, criticizing the Colorado Supreme Court's decision as flawed and undemocratic. They expressed confidence in the US Supreme Court to rule in their favor, aiming to conclude what they deemed "un-American lawsuits." Campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung conveyed their commitment to swiftly appealing to the highest court and seeking a stay on the decision.
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