The United States Supreme Court has unanimously ruled in favor of former President Donald Trump in his legal challenge against the state of Colorado’s attempt to remove him from the 2024 primary ballot.
In a judgment delivered on Monday, all nine justices of the Supreme Court sided with Trump, a decision that is expected to have implications for similar efforts in several other states aiming to exclude the likely GOP nominee from their ballots.
The court’s ruling marks the first consideration of the meaning and scope of Article 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits former officeholders who “engaged in insurrection” from seeking public office again.
Numerous challenges have been lodged to remove Trump from the 2024 ballot in over 30 states. Colorado, among them, contended that Trump’s actions leading to the January 6 Capitol riots constituted an “insurrection,” justifying his removal from the state’s ballot.
However, the Supreme Court ruled otherwise, stating: “We conclude that States may disqualify persons holding or attempting to hold state office. But States have no power under the Constitution to enforce Section 3 with respect to federal offices, especially the Presidency.”
In response to the verdict, Colorado’s Secretary of State Jena Griswold released a statement on Monday, affirming, “The United States Supreme Court has ruled that states do not have the authority to enforce Section 3 of the 14th Amendment for federal candidates.”
“In accordance with this decision, Donald Trump is an eligible candidate on Colorado’s 2024 Presidential Primary ballot,” Griswold added.
Trump expressed his reaction to the ruling on Truth Social, stating, “BIG WIN FOR AMERICA!!!”
