Staff Reports
Former President Donald Trump and his supporters are vigorously contesting a ruling by a Colorado state judge that questioned Trump's eligibility for the 2024 ballot based on the 14th Amendment. The appeal, filed with the Colorado Supreme Court shortly after District Court Judge Sarah Wallace's decision, challenges her findings that Trump played a role in the January 6th Capitol riot and incited the insurrection. Despite these findings, Judge Wallace allowed Trump to remain on the state's primary ballot.
However, discontent exists among Colorado voters represented by the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). They argue that Judge Wallace overlooked the 14th Amendment's "insurrection" clause as it pertains to presidential eligibility. On the other side, Trump is dissatisfied with the portion of Wallace's ruling linking him to the insurrection.
Trump and voters seeking to drop him from Colorado ballot appeal to state's high court | Washington Examiner https://t.co/lQ0HGhMwDr
— Dr. Joel P. Rutkowski- President (@RutkowskiDr) November 21, 2023
Trump's legal team is pushing back, asserting that the court made unsupported legal and factual conclusions, emphasizing numerous alleged errors in the ruling that require review. CREW's president, Noah Bookbinder, is determined to pursue the case to ensure Trump's removal from the ballot and is prepared to take it to the state's high court.
Legal experts speculate on the trajectory of the case, with many suggesting that it could eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court, especially given similar challenges occurring in at least 14 state courts nationwide. While Trump has achieved some success in early court proceedings regarding ballot eligibility challenges in states like Michigan, Minnesota, and New Hampshire, the overarching question of whether Trump incited an insurrection remains a persistent issue expected to reach the Supreme Court before the 2024 general election.
The appeal of Judge Wallace's ruling will be heard by all seven justices of the Colorado Supreme Court. Colorado officials maintain neutrality in the ballot eligibility lawsuit but have emphasized the importance of a decision by January 5, 2024, when the primary ballot must be finalized. The battle over Trump's candidacy in Colorado appears to be a protracted and contentious journey leading up to the 2024 election.
