The US Supreme Court has agreed to hear the appeal of former President Donald Trump on his removal from the Colorado primary ballot for the 2024 elections. The former president is appealing the decision of the Colorado Supreme Court which disqualified him from appearing on the state’s primary ballot, citing Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
Court proceedings are scheduled for oral arguments on February 8. In preparation, the Supreme Court has ordered Trump to submit a brief advocating his position by January 18, followed by a response brief by January 31. These developments come after House Democrats wrote to Justice Clarence Thomas, asking him to recuse himself from the case due to possible bias via his wife’s involvement in Trump’s alleged efforts to overturn and obstruct the certification of 2020 election results.
The Colorado Supreme Court had previously disqualified Trump from the state’s primary ballot under Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment of the US Constitution. This decision was based on the argument that Trump engaged in insurrection after the 2020 election, which culminated in the January 6 attacks on the US Capitol. Section 3 of the amendment disallows anyone “who has engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same [the US Constitution], or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof” from holding elected office.
Despite the serious implications of this legal struggle, a recent incident involving the arrest of an individual who broke into the Colorado Supreme Court building and discharged a weapon, is not believed to be directly tied to the ongoing court case.
Similar actions to remove Trump from primary ballots have taken place in other states such as Maine, which Trump also appealed. Furthermore, Massachusetts voters have filed an objection with officials in an attempt to remove Trump from their state’s primary ballot for 2024.
The question of Trump’s eligibility for office following the events of January 6 is a hotly debated topic as the US enters a presidential election year. This issue joins a roster of Trump’s numerous ongoing legal battles, which include an indictment for 2020 election interference. Notably, opinions diverge even among party lines, with some liberal critics opposing Trump’s removal from the ballot while some conservative legal scholars lend their support.