A pivotal Supreme Court ruling is anticipated as early as Monday in the case revolving around whether former President Donald Trump can be disqualified from the ballot due to his efforts to overturn his defeat in the 2020 election.
Trump is contesting a landmark decision by the Colorado Supreme Court, which declared him ineligible to run for president again and barred him from the state’s upcoming primary on Tuesday.
The resolution of this case on Monday, just ahead of the Super Tuesday contests in 16 states, would dispel uncertainties regarding the validity of votes cast for Trump, who stands as the leading Republican candidate for president. Both sides had urged prompt action from the court, which conducted hearings less than a month ago on February 8th.
The Colorado court made history by invoking a post-Civil War constitutional provision designed to prevent individuals who “engaged in insurrection” from holding office. Subsequently, Trump has also been excluded from the primary ballot in Illinois and Maine. However, these decisions, along with Colorado’s ruling, are pending the outcome of the Supreme Court case.
Trump (Credits: Global News)
Notably, the Supreme Court has never before adjudicated on the provision in question, Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
The court signaled on Sunday that at least one case would be decided on Monday, maintaining its tradition of not disclosing specifics. However, there were departures from usual practices, heightening expectations that the Trump ballot case would be among those decided.
Typically, the court issues decisions on days when the justices convene, except towards the end of June. However, the next scheduled session isn’t until March 15th. Additionally, aside from instances during the pandemic closure, opinions are typically read out in the courtroom, which won’t happen on Monday.
Opinions will be published on the court’s website starting shortly after 10 a.m. EST Monday.
Separately, the justices recently agreed to hear arguments in late April regarding whether Trump can face criminal prosecution on charges related to election interference, including his involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. This decision, delving into a politically charged case with limited precedent, raises questions about whether Trump will undergo trial before the November election.
The former president is confronting 91 criminal charges across four prosecutions. Among these, the only one with a trial date imminent is his New York state case, where he is accused of falsifying business records in connection with payments to a porn actor. The trial is scheduled for March 25th, and the presiding judge has signaled a commitment to proceed.
