The US Supreme Court is currently engaged in hearing oral arguments in the appeal case of former president Donald Trump. The case concerns a Colorado Supreme Court ruling that disqualified Trump from appearing on the state’s primary election ballot in the forthcoming 2024 presidential race.
The case, Trump v. Anderson, is predicted to set a precedent in relation to whether states are authorised to remove candidates from election ballots based on their behaviour, specifically focusing on Trump’s behaviours on January 6, 2021, the day the US Capitol experienced violent public disorder.
This case pivots on the application of Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, intricately referred to as the Insurrection Clause. It restricts any person from assuming any federal or state office if they engaged in insurrection or rebellion after previously pledging an oath to support the Constitution.
The Colorado Supreme Court concluded that Section 3 applies to Donald Trump due to his alleged engagement in insurrection activities subsequent to the 2020 elections, leading up to the January 6 Capitol attacks. Moreover, the court clarified its application to the presidency, which requires an oath to protect the Constitution. Based on these interpretations, Trump was disqualified from competing in the state’s 2024 Republican primary ballot.
The justices started the case hearing slightly after 10:00AM EST. The scheduled oral argument has an assigned duration of 80 minutes. Trump’s legal team has been allocated 40 minutes for their argument, the team defending Colorado’s decision will have 30 minutes, and Colorado Solicitor General Shannon Stevenson will have the remaining 10 minutes. This story is continuing to develop.
For full coverage, please check out the comprehensive report on the JURIST website.