The former US President Donald Trump has been disqualified from Colorado’s 2024 Presidential election ballot by the state’s supreme Court.
In a 4-3 decision on Tuesday, the panel ruled Trump could be kept off the state’s GOP ballot under the 14th Amendment in connection with his actions leading up to the insurrection of 2020 January 6 also known as Capitol riot.
Section 3 of the 14th Amendment disqualifies people who engage in insurrection against the Constitution after taking an oath to support it.
The case was filed by Special counsel Jack Smith in the federal district court in Washington with four four counts charges against Trump in connection with the attempt to overturn 2020 elections.
“We do not reach these conclusions lightly,” the majority opinion reads. “We are likewise mindful of our solemn duty to apply the law, without fear or favor, and without being swayed by public reaction.
Meanwhile, Mr. Trump’s campaign said that it would appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court
The ruling, which directs the Colorado secretary of state to exclude Mr. Trump’s name from the state’s Republican primary ballot and does not address the general election.
Although, Tuesday’s ruling applies only to one state, it could all but force the nation’s highest court to decide the question for all the 50 states
The Colorado justices, however anticipated that likelihood by putting their ruling on hold at least until Jan. 4; if Mr. Trump appeals before then, the hold will continue until the Supreme Court rules.