Trump was banned from Colorado Ballot by State Supreme Court

According to a recent state Supreme Court judgment, the former President is disqualified from Colorado’s ballot. 

Here are the details of the news.   

Donald Trump was banned from the Colorado ballot in a historic ruling by the State’s Supreme Court

In a historic ruling, the Colorado Supreme Court banned former United States President Donald Trump from the State’s ballot on Tuesday. 

Colorado’s highest court wrote in its 4-3 decision, “A majority of the court holds that Trump is disqualified from holding the office of president under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.” 

The ruling makes Trump ineligible to contest the State primary election as a presidential candidate under the provision sanctioned in Section 3 of the 14th Amendment in the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits any person engaged in insurrection from contesting election and holding government office. The ruling applies only to Colorado’s March 5 Republican primary election.  

Trump’s legal team will likely appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court against the disqualification. 

The Colorado Supreme Court noted that the ruling would not be in effect until January 4 or until the nation’s highest court decides on the case. Colorado officials want the issue settled by January 5, the State’s deadline to finalize the presidential primary ballots.

Colorado Supreme Court said, “We do not reach these conclusions lightly. 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, and without being swayed by public reaction to the decisions that the law mandates we reach.” 

The judgment overturned the previous district court ruling that found Trump responsible for the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection but did not ban him from the State’s ballot, noting that as President, Trump was not an “officer of the United States” to be disqualified from the State’s ballot under the 14th Amendment.  

Implications and Responses to the Ruling

A group of Colorado voters aided and supported by the advocacy group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington ( CREW) filed a case against Trump, arguing that he should be disqualified for making his supporters attack the Capital for his failed attempt to change the 2020 Presidential election result and overturn President Biden’s victory. 

In a statement, CREW President Noah Bookbinder said that the court’s decision is “not only historic and justified but is necessary to protect the future of democracy in our country.”

While the voters’ group is happy with the ruling to ban Trump from Colorado’s ballot, his campaign has criticized the judgment, calling it “undemocratic.” 

On Tuesday, his campaign spokesperson said, “The Colorado Supreme Court issued a completely flawed decision tonight, and we will swiftly file an appeal to the United States Supreme Court.” 

In another statement, Trump’s legal spokeswoman, Alina Habba, said, “This ruling, issued by the Colorado Supreme Court, attacks the heart of this nation’s democracy. It will not stand, and we trust that the Supreme Court will reverse this unconstitutional order.” 

Republican National Committee (RNC) chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has called the decision “Election interference” and vowed to help Trump fight against the disqualification. 

The recent Colorado Supreme Court decision marks the first use of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to disqualify a presidential candidate from the ballot. Although the decision would not significantly influence Trump’s lead for the GOP nomination, it could increase his legal trouble and affect his candidacy. The ruling could invite more disqualifications if other states follow Colorado’s approach and ban the former President from contesting ballots in their states.