The Colorado Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that former President Donald Trump is ineligible to run for president due to his role in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol, barring him from appearing on the state’s Republican primary ballot.
The 4-3 ruling, which is likely to be appealed at the U.S. Supreme Court, marks the first time a presidential candidate has been deemed ineligible under a rarely used provision of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits anyone who has engaged in “insurrection or rebellion” from holding federal office.
While the ruling only affects Colorado’s March 5th primary, it could have broader implications for Trump’s candidacy nationwide. Although, according to forecasters, President Biden is projected to win the state regardless, the decision opens the door for similar lawsuits in other states.
Trump, the current frontrunner for the Republican nomination in 2024, vowed to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court, whose conservative majority includes three justices he appointed.
The court has agreed to delay the decision’s effect until January 4th, 2024, to allow for an appeal.
The Colorado court found that Trump’s actions on January 6th, including his speech inciting violence at the Capitol, disqualified him from holding office. The majority acknowledged the unprecedented nature of the decision, stating, “We do not take this lightly, but we are bound to uphold the law without fear or favor.”
Trump’s campaign called the decision “undemocratic” and vowed to appeal.
The case was brought by a group of Colorado voters, aided by the advocacy group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington.
