A recent notice from the Supreme Court has ignited speculation about a potential verdict in the Colorado ballot eligibility case involving former President Donald Trump.
Trump, currently the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, faces legal hurdles aiming to disqualify him from ballots across various states, citing Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
On Sunday, Lawrence Hurley, a Supreme Court reporter for NBC News, highlighted on X, formerly Twitter, that the Supreme Court’s website posted a notice for Monday. The notice indicates the court will release an order list and potentially announce opinions on its homepage, clarifying that the justices will not convene in the courtroom. Any opinions will be available on the court’s website shortly after 10 a.m. EST on Monday.
Hurley interpreted this notice as suggesting a likely ruling in Trump’s ballot eligibility case, noting the unusual aspect that the justices won’t be present in the courtroom for the announcement. “The Supreme Court website is now saying there will be rulings tomorrow. With Colorado’s primary taking place on Tuesday, it would seem quite likely that they will decide the Trump ballot eligibility case,” he remarked on X, accompanied by an image of the notice.
Hurley further elaborated that tomorrow isn’t a customary day for rulings, making it even more notable that the justices won’t be physically present for the announcement.
Trump (Credits: Missouri Lawyers Media)
Trump has faced removal from primary ballots in Maine and Colorado due to the same constitutional provision. However, the decision regarding Trump’s exclusion from these states’ primary ballots is now under the Supreme Court’s purview, following Trump’s appeals against both states’ rulings.
In early February, the Supreme Court deliberated on the case, with legal experts skeptical about the court upholding the states’ decisions.
The legal dispute revolves around Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, a provision dating back to the Civil War era, which prohibits individuals who participated in insurrection or rebellion from holding office again after swearing to uphold the Constitution.
Challenges to Trump’s candidacy center on his alleged involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol siege. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing, accusing those pursuing legal action against him of meddling in elections.
The potential verdict in Trump’s case coincides with Super Tuesday, a crucial day in the primary season where he and Republican contender Nikki Haley are vying in numerous state races. Trump’s dominance in previous primary contests positions him as the frontrunner for the GOP nomination in 2024, while Haley remains determined to stay in the race despite not securing victories in prior elections.
This development follows a recent ruling in Illinois, where a judge barred Trump from the state’s primary ballot, citing the same “insurrection clause” of the 14th Amendment. The judge referenced the Colorado Supreme Court’s rationale in her decision, deeming it persuasive.
Despite these legal setbacks, Trump and his campaign have criticized efforts to exclude him from the 2024 ballot, with spokesperson Steven Cheung labeling Colorado’s ruling as a partisan attempt to sway the election in favor of Joe Biden.
