The Colorado Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments on December 6, 2023, in a lawsuit seeking to disqualify former President Donald Trump from running for office again in 2024, according to Reuters. Filed by a group of Colorado voters and a watchdog group, the lawsuit claims that Trump violated Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bars public officials engaged in “insurrection” from holding federal office.
The plaintiffs assert that Trump incited a violent mob on January 6, 2021, to storm the U.S. Capitol, attempting to overturn the 2020 election results and prevent the peaceful transfer of power to President Joe Biden. The case is seen as a test for a broader campaign challenging Trump’s 2024 candidacy under the same constitutional provision in other states.
A lower court judge ruled that Trump engaged in insurrection but allowed him to remain on the Colorado Republican primary ballot. The plaintiffs appealed, arguing that this contradicts the plain meaning and purpose of the 14th Amendment.
The outcome in Colorado could set a precedent for other states, and the decision of the Colorado Supreme Court can be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Trump’s campaign has called the lawsuits an attempt to deprive voters of their right to choose their preferred candidate. The oral arguments will be available for live viewing on the court’s website at 1 p.m. MT (2000 GMT).
