The Colorado Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday that former President Donald Trump is not eligible to be a candidate in the 2024 presidential elections. The court reached this decision after deciding that Trump’s actions on January 6, 2021, constituted an insurrection. As a result, the court has decided to remove him from the state’s 2024 presidential ballot.
The court judgment was split 4-3 and will remain on hold until January 4, pending an appeal. According to the court’s ruling, “President Trump is disqualified from holding the office of President under Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution.” Consequently, it would be inappropriate for the Colorado Secretary of State to include him as a candidate on the presidential primary ballot, the ruling stated.
Reacting to this ruling, the Trump campaign expressed its disagreement and declared they would promptly appeal the decision. The campaign labeled the ruling as “deeply undemocratic” and “completely flawed.” A spokesperson for the campaign voiced their confidence that the U.S. Supreme Court would rule in their favor and put an end to what they termed as ‘unAmerican lawsuits.’
The Colorado Supreme Court stated it had found substantial evidence to conclude that there was a deliberate and public display of force, or a threat of force by a group of people aimed at obstructing the U.S. government from carrying out the peaceful transition of power. The court affirmed that these events amounted to an insurrection on January 6.
In the court’s words, “We do not reach these conclusions lightly,” adding, “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.”
