Former President Donald Trump secured a legal win in California after a judge dismissed a lawsuit aiming to bar him from the Republican primary ballot, as reported by Newsweek on Thursday, January 4, 2024.
District Judge David O. Carter granted the motion to dismiss the case with prejudice on Wednesday, a move preventing its re-filing before the court. The ruling was based on the claim of “Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress,” which was deemed beyond the “2-year statute of limitations.”
The plaintiff, who alleged suffering “severe emotional stress” due to Trump’s actions in January 2021 amidst the Capitol riot, brought the lawsuit. Judge Carter’s decision, made public via X (formerly Twitter) by Harmeet K. Dhillon, founder of Dhillon Law and a national committeewoman of the Republican National Committee for California, included images of the court documents related to the ruling. Newsweek reached out to Dhillon via X for further comment.
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The lawsuit, filed in August 2021 by an anonymous registered Republican voter in California, contended that Trump’s presence on the ballot would cause “irreparable harm” to the plaintiff and other anti-Trump voters. Additionally, it argued that Trump’s candidacy violated the 14th Amendment, which prohibits individuals engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the U.S. from holding office.
However, Judge Carter dismissed the suit citing various grounds such as lack of standing, mootness, and failure to state a claim. He highlighted the absence of evidence showcasing actual or imminent injury caused by Trump’s candidacy.
Regarding emotional distress claims, Carter noted they were not recognized under California law, and the suit was untimely as per the two-year statute of limitations. He also rebuffed the plaintiff’s interpretation of the 14th Amendment, deeming it unsupported and stating that the eligibility issue should be addressed by Congress and voters, not the courts.
This legal victory for Trump ensures his appearance on the California Republican primary ballot slated for June 7, 2024. His opponents in the GOP race include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, both certified by California Secretary of State Shirley Weber.
Weber, a Democrat, affirmed Trump’s eligibility despite pressure from Lieutenant Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, also a Democrat, who argued Trump’s candidacy would undermine electoral integrity. Weber maintained her role was to administer the law, not shape it, indicating she lacked the authority to exclude Trump from the ballot.
