Colorado Supreme Court Rules Against Trump‘s 2024 Presidential Candidacy Under 14th Amendment Section 3

In a groundbreaking decision on Tuesday, Colorado’s Supreme Court delivered a verdict that reverberated through the political landscape, ruling that former President Donald Trump is ineligible to run for office in the state’s 2024 Republican primary. This unprecedented decision was based on a little-known provision in the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, Section 3, which prohibits individuals who have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States from holding office.

The lawsuit leading to this historic ruling was filed on behalf of six Colorado voters by the government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and two law firms. The court’s 4-3 majority held that President Trump’s actions on January 6, 2021, amounted to incitement and encouragement of violence, contributing to the Capitol attack.

The court explicitly referenced Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, stating, “A majority of the court holds that President Trump is disqualified from holding the office of President under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.” The ruling went further, directing the Colorado Secretary of State, Jena Griswold, not to include Trump’s name on the 2024 presidential primary ballot.

The decision, however, is not immediate, as the court has put it on hold until January 4, allowing time for potential appeals. If Trump pursues an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court before this date, the pause will remain in effect until the higher court takes action.

Notably, Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump’s campaign, criticized the ruling, alleging a partisan bias in the all-Democrat appointed Colorado Supreme Court. He pledged to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, expressing confidence that the higher court would rule in their favor and decrying the lawsuits as “unAmerican.”

This ruling sets a significant legal precedent, as it marks the first instance where a state’s highest court has barred Trump from seeking the presidency based on his involvement in the Capitol attack. The court rejected the argument that presidents are exempt from Section 3, stating, “We are mindful of the magnitude and weight of the questions now before us. We are likewise mindful of our solemn duty to apply the law, without fear or favor.”

This decision adds to the growing legal challenges faced by Trump, who already faces scrutiny at the U.S. Supreme Court regarding his immunity from criminal cases. The Colorado case is part of a broader effort, with similar challenges in other states, including Michigan and Minnesota, seeking to prevent Trump’s name from appearing on their respective ballots.

As the legal battle unfolds, the nation watches closely, anticipating the potential implications for Trump’s political future and the interpretation of the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause in the context of presidential eligibility.