The Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday that former President Donald Trump may not be removed from the 2024 primary ballot Tuesday in Colorado.
The case revolved around whether Trump could be removed from the ballot by the state, as the Colorado Supreme Court decided, under the “insurrection” clause of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
“We conclude that States may disqualify persons holding or attempting to hold state office. But States have no power under the Constitution to enforce Section 3 with respect to federal offices, especially the Presidency,” the court wrote in its decision, according to Fox News.
Trump posted on Truth Social, his social media platform: “BIG WIN FOR AMERICA!”
Trump’s counsel of record in the case, Harmeet K. Dhillon, made a public statement about the high court’s 9-0 decision:
Today’s unanimous Supreme Court decision underscores the bedrock principles of our democracy and the rule of law. This victory is not just for President Trump but for the integrity of our electoral system and the rights of voters across the country. The attempt to use the 14th Amendment in this manner was a dangerous overreach that, if left unchallenged, could have set a perilous precedent for future election. We are proud to have defended the constitutional rights at stake and grateful for the Supreme Court’s unequivocal affirmation of these fundamental principles.
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that she was “disappointed” with the Supreme Court’s decision.
“I am disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision stripping states of the authority to enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment for federal candidates,” she wrote. “Colorado should be able to bar oath-breaking insurrections from our ballot.”
Heritage Foundation senior legal fellows Hans von Spakovsky and Charles Stimson praised the ruling in a public statement:
The Supreme Court justices brought order to what could have become a chaotic election season by shutting down this partisan, anti-democratic, and unconstitutional effort in Colorado. They found numerous constitutional and statutory reasons why the Colorado court got it wrong.
Activist courts and partisan bureaucrats should not be able to take away American voters’ right to choose the president. This ruling, which came together with amazing speed for the Supreme Court, should serve as a stern warning that radicals cannot interfere in our election process.
Liberal podcast host Keith Olbermann blasted the decision and called for abolishing the Supreme Court.
“The Supreme Court has betrayed democracy,” Olbermann wrote on X. “Its members including [Ketanji Brown] Jackson, [Elena] Kagan, and [Sonia] Sotomayor have proved themselves inept at reading comprehension. And collectively the ‘court’ has shown itself to be corrupt and illegitimate. It must be dissolved.”
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
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