U.S. Supreme Court to hear Trump's appeal of Colorado ballot case in February
(The Center Square) – The U.S. Supreme Court will hear an appeal from former President Donald Trump next month on whether a Colorado Supreme Court ruling could keep him from appearing on the March Republican presidential primary ballot.
After a regularly scheduled conference on Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court said it's granting a writ of certiorari from Trump’s legal team and scheduled oral arguments for February 8. The Colorado Republican Party also filed a request for the court to hear an appeal of the Colorado Supreme Court decision.
“Coloradans, and the American people, deserve clarity on whether someone who engaged in insurrection may run for the country's highest office,” Democratic Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said in a statement after the U.S. Supreme Court's announcement. “I urge the Court to prioritize this case and issue a ruling as soon as possible.”
U.S. President Donald Trump. FlickrCC - Gage Skidmore
Other states have attempted to remove Trump from the presidential primary ballot, stating his role in events January 6, 2021, should disqualify him under the 14th amendment of the U.S. Constitution. However, Colorado was the only state to have a case make it to its state Supreme Court and have a ruling against Trump. Last week, Democratic Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows stopped Trump from appearing on the state’s presidential primary ballot. Trump then filed a lawsuit against Bellows’ action.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s action triggers a stipulation in the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling that automatically places Trump on the ballot for the Republican presidential primary. Friday was the deadline for Griswold to certify the names and party affiliations for candidates on the 2024 presidential primary ballot.
“Colorado’s 2024 Presidential primary ballot is certified,” Griswold said. “The United States Supreme Court has accepted the case, and Donald Trump will appear on the ballot as a result.”
Colorado’s ballots are scheduled to be sent to military and overseas voters January 20 and ballots are scheduled to be mailed to the state’s active registered voters February 12, according to Griswold’s office.
"Should the U.S. Supreme Court rule that [Trump] is ineligible to appear on the Colorado ballot after ballots have been printed, votes cast for Mr. Trump would not count," a spokesperson for the Colorado secretary of state's office said.
