A report released by Fox News on Thursday, January 25, 2024, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court has opted to delay its decision on whether former President Donald Trump can be included on the state’s ballot until a parallel case in Colorado is resolved by the United States Supreme Court.
This move comes amidst an escalating legal dispute over Trump’s eligibility for electoral candidacy. The U.S. Supreme Court is slated to hear arguments on the Colorado case on February 8, providing insight into a matter with significant ramifications for Maine’s Super Tuesday.
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court unanimously rejected Secretary of State Shenna Bellows’ appeal, which sought clarification on the inclusion of Trump’s name in the primary ballot. The court emphasized, “This uncertainty is, however, precisely what guides our decision not to undertake immediate appellate review in this particular case.”
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Bellows was directed to await the Supreme Court’s decision before making any determinations regarding Trump’s eligibility for the primary ballot in March. In December, Secretary Bellows initially removed Trump from the primary ballot, citing an alleged violation of the insurrection clause outlined in the Constitution. However, a judge temporarily halted her decision pending the outcome of the Colorado case.
Trump, positioned as the leading candidate in the Republican presidential race, accused Bellows of bias and voter disenfranchisement in Maine. He called for her recusal, contending that her actions were part of a broader Democratic strategy to hinder his inclusion on the ballot.
In response to challenges against Trump’s eligibility, Bellows clarified that she felt obligated to make a decision after several Maine residents questioned the former president’s right to be on the ballot under the 14th Amendment of the Constitution.
The contested Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, addressing the disqualification of individuals engaged in insurrection, has never been authoritatively interpreted by the Supreme Court. Some argue that Trump’s alleged involvement in the events surrounding the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, could be construed as an insurrection, justifying his exclusion from the ballot.
