Supreme Court Rules Trump Eligible for Colorado Primary Ballot

In a landmark decision, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday that Donald Trump is eligible to appear on Colorado’s primary ballot in the milestone 2024 U.S. election case. This overturns an earlier ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court that deemed Trump ineligible to feature on the state’s election ballot and participate in the primary, scheduled for Tuesday.

The Supreme Court’s decision highlighted that only Congress has the authority to enforce the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause against federal candidates. The Colorado Supreme Court had invoked a post-Civil War constitutional provision aimed at preventing individuals who “engaged in insurrection” from holding office, leading to Trump’s disqualification from the primary ballot in Colorado, Illinois, and Maine.

Trump, the leading Republican candidate for president, challenged the groundbreaking decision by the Colorado Supreme Court, which declared him disqualified from seeking the presidency again and barred him from the state’s primary. The resolution of this case, just a day before Super Tuesday contests in 16 states, provides clarity on whether votes for Trump will count in the primary.

The Supreme Court’s involvement in this politically charged case raises questions about Trump’s potential criminal prosecution on election interference charges, including his alleged role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. With little precedent to guide it, the court’s decision to hear arguments in late April underscores the uncertainty surrounding whether Trump will stand trial before the November election.

While facing multiple criminal charges, including those related to his business dealings, Trump’s appearance on the Colorado primary ballot is a significant development in the ongoing legal battles surrounding his political future.