The Colorado Supreme Court has agreed to hear appeals related to a judge’s ruling against efforts to keep former President Donald Trump off the state’s ballot in 2024. The appeals were filed by both Trump and Colorado voters, with Trump taking issue with the state judge’s finding that he “engaged in insurrection,” and the voters disagreeing with the ruling that the constitutional clause about ineligibility does not apply to the presidency. The legal challenge, brought by a group of Colorado voters, argued that Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and his conduct surrounding the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot violated Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution, making him ineligible for office. The Supreme Court’s decision to take up the appeal was welcomed by an attorney for the group of voters who filed the legal challenge, citing that “an insurrectionist former president can and must be disqualified under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.”
Oral arguments before the Supreme Court are scheduled for December 6 in Denver, a month before Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold must certify ballots for the state’s March 5 primary. This case is part of a larger pattern of legal challenges across multiple states, with Minnesota and Michigan also recently rejecting similar efforts to disqualify Trump from running for president. Petitioners in Michigan have filed an appeal with the state’s Supreme Court, adding to the complex legal battles taking place in various states over Trump’s eligibility for the 2024 presidential ballot. These legal proceedings will contribute to shaping the political landscape as the deadlines for certifying ballots across multiple states draw near. The decision made by the Colorado Supreme Court will have implications that extend beyond the state, with potential repercussions for the upcoming presidential election and its candidates.
