A groundbreaking move, the Colorado Supreme Court has declared that former President Donald Trump cannot run for president in 2024 within the state. The court, in a close 4-3 decision, pointed to his role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
Citing Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, the court stated that anyone involved in insurrection against the United States is barred from holding federal office. They deemed Trump’s actions on January 6 as constituting an insurrection.
This ruling, a first in the nation, could have significant implications for the 2024 presidential race. Colorado, a crucial swing state won by President Biden in 2020, might play a pivotal role.
The Trump campaign criticized the decision as undemocratic and vowed to appeal to the US Supreme Court, where conservatives hold a 6-3 majority.
The ruling won’t take immediate effect; the court stayed its order until January 4, 2024, just before Colorado’s deadline to print presidential primary ballots.
The court acknowledged the gravity of its decision but emphasized its commitment to applying the law impartially.
This decision overturned a lower court ruling that found Trump participated in an insurrection but argued that the 14th Amendment’s ban did not apply to the presidency.
The Colorado Supreme Court disagreed, asserting that the ban included the presidency, the highest office in the nation. They also rejected the argument that only Congress, not the courts, could enforce the ban, stating that the courts had the authority and duty to interpret and apply the Constitution.
The ruling specifically affects Colorado’s presidential primary on March 5, 2024. However, it could influence the general election on November 5, 2024, if Trump secures the Republican nomination.
The Trump campaign criticized the ruling as flawed and accused the Democratic-appointed justices of bias. They pledged a swift appeal to the US Supreme Court, expressing confidence in overturning the decision.
While representatives for the Biden campaign refrained from commenting, a senior Democrat associated with the campaign suggested that the ruling would highlight the seriousness of the January 6 insurrection, drawing a contrast between Trump and Biden.
Republican lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, condemned the ruling as an unprecedented attack on democracy and the people’s will.