BREAKING NEWS: Court Disqualifies Donald Trump from 2024 US Ballot

By Caroline Ameh

Former President Donald Trump has been disqualified from appearing on the primary ballot in Colorado and potentially for the November 5 general election, following a historic 4-3 ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court on Tuesday. The court cited his involvement in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters as the reason behind this decision.

This ruling, likely to be taken up by the U.S. Supreme Court, marks the first time a presidential candidate has been deemed ineligible for the White House under a seldom-used constitutional provision that prohibits officials who have engaged in “insurrection or rebellion” from holding office.

Although this ruling specifically affects Colorado’s March 5 Republican primary, it could have implications for Trump’s status in the state for the general election. Despite this, election forecasters anticipate Colorado to lean Democratic, suggesting President Joe Biden’s likely victory in the state, irrespective of Trump’s status.

Trump has expressed intentions to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Colorado court has agreed to delay the effect of its decision until at least Jan. 4, 2024, to allow for an appeal.

This case is poised to become a critical test for broader efforts to disqualify Trump from state ballots under section 3 of the 14th Amendment, enacted post the U.S. Civil War to prevent confederacy supporters from government service.

The Colorado court’s majority emphasized that Trump, the leading contender for the 2024 Republican nomination, is ineligible due to his involvement in inciting violence at the Capitol during the certification of the 2020 election results, acknowledging the unprecedented nature of their decision.

“We do not reach these conclusions lightly,” the majority justices stated, underlining their commitment to upholding the law impartially, regardless of public sentiment.

In response, Trump’s campaign criticized the decision as “undemocratic” and pledged to file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court.

The case was initiated by a group of Colorado voters, supported by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, who argued that Trump should be disqualified for inciting the Capitol attack to obstruct the transfer of power to Biden.

Noah Bookbinder, President of CREW, hailed the court’s decision as necessary to safeguard the future of democracy in the country.

While various lawsuits seeking to keep Trump off primary ballots in other states have been rejected, this ruling in Colorado could potentially bolster the wider disqualification efforts, potentially reaching the U.S. Supreme Court.

Trump’s legal team defended his actions on January 6, stating his speech to supporters was protected by free speech rights and argued that the 14th Amendment doesn’t apply to sitting U.S. presidents without a congressional vote for disqualification.

Three justices dissented from Tuesday’s ruling, with Justice Carlos Samour arguing that such lawsuits impede due process, emphasizing the need for procedural fairness before disqualifying an individual from public office.