Colorado Voters Seek Supreme Court Ruling on Trump's Eligibility Amid Capitol Attack Fallout
Colorado voters are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on whether Donald Trump's involvement leading up to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack disqualifies him from appearing on their state's ballot. The appeal comes on the heels of a historic decision by Colorado's top court, which marked the first-ever use of Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution's Fourteenth Amendment, known as the disqualification clause, to render a presidential candidate ineligible for the White House.
The Dec. 19 ruling by Colorado's highest court asserted that Trump's role in the events leading to the Capitol attack disqualified him from the state's Republican primary ballot. This decision was met with a swift response from Trump, who petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse the ruling, arguing that questions of presidential eligibility are within the purview of Congress, not the judiciary.
The legal battle centers on the contention that Trump's intentional "mobilizing, inciting, and encouraging" of an armed mob to storm the Capitol aligns with the legal definition outlined in Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment. The plaintiffs, comprised of Republican and unaffiliated voters in Colorado, emphasize that the attack on the Capitol was an "insurrection against the Constitution."
The lawsuit, supported by watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), asserts that the Colorado Supreme Court's decision inhibits voters' rights by preventing them from casting ballots for the leading major-party presidential candidate. The case has attracted national attention as it raises questions about the boundaries between the judiciary and Congress in determining presidential eligibility.
Trump's legal team, in their filing, contended that the Colorado court's decision is not only unprecedented but also incorrect. They argue that the judiciary has overstepped its role, emphasizing that this case could set a troubling precedent for future elections.
The Colorado high court, cognizant of the significance of its decision, has put the ruling on hold, allowing Trump to remain on the ballot while the appeals process unfolds. This has triggered separate U.S. Supreme Court appeals from both Colorado Republicans and Trump, who is considered the frontrunner for the Republican 2024 presidential nomination.
The politically charged nature of the case adds a layer of complexity as it now rests with the nation's highest judicial body, which includes a conservative majority that includes three of Trump's appointees. The Supreme Court's decision will likely have broader implications as efforts to disqualify Trump from other state ballots intensify leading up to the 2024 election.
In a statement, CREW called on the Supreme Court to expedite the case, highlighting the importance of ensuring voter confidence in the eligibility of candidates on the ballot. Meanwhile, Trump has also appealed a similar decision in Maine, further fueling a nationwide legal battle that could redefine the criteria for presidential candidacy.
