Colorado Supreme court kicked off Donald Trump from the ballot over insurrection

• The decision was close, with 4 judges supporting the decision and 3 against it.
• The ruling is on hold until next month pending an appeal.
• Cheung plans to file an appeal to the US Supreme Court.

Colorado’s Supreme Court has decided that Donald Trump won’t be allowed to run for president in the state next year. They made this decision because they believe he was involved in an insurrection during the Capitol riot almost three years ago. The vote was close, with 4 judges supporting the decision and 3 against it.

This ruling doesn’t prevent Trump from running in other states, and his campaign plans to challenge the decision in the US Supreme Court, arguing that it’s flawed.

The court’s decision specifically talks about Colorado’s primary election on March 5, where Republican voters will pick their favorite candidate for president.

However, if the ruling stands, it could impact the general election in Colorado next November.

This case is significant because it’s the first time that Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution has been used to disqualify a presidential candidate.

The decision is not final yet; it’s on hold until next month pending an appeal. It’s essential to note that this ruling is applicable only in Colorado.

Similar efforts to exclude Trump from the ballot in other states like New Hampshire, Minnesota, and Michigan have been unsuccessful.

Can Trump still run for president after the Colorado ruling?

The justices wrote in their ruling: “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 latest decision overturns a previous one made by a judge in Colorado. Initially, the judge argued that the 14th Amendment’s ban on insurrection didn’t apply to presidents because the section didn’t explicitly mention them.

This same judge, however, did find that Donald Trump played a role in the insurrection during the US Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, where his supporters stormed Congress while lawmakers were confirming President Joe Biden’s election win.

The ruling from the Colorado Supreme Court won’t take effect until January 4, 2024, which is just before the deadline for the state to finalize and print its presidential primary ballots.

A spokesperson for the Trump campaign, Steven Cheung, criticized the decision, calling it “completely flawed.” He also expressed dissatisfaction with the justices involved, pointing out that they were all appointed by Democratic governors.

“Democrat Party leaders are in a state of paranoia over the growing, dominant lead President Trump has amassed in the polls,” Mr Cheung said in a statement.

“They have lost faith in the failed Biden presidency and are now doing everything they can to stop the American voters from throwing them out of office next November.”

Mr Cheung added that Mr Trump’s legal team would “swiftly file an appeal” to the US Supreme Court, where conservatives hold a 6 to 3 majority.