According to American journalists, the majority of the nine members of the court argued that despite the constitutional amendment, states cannot exclude federal candidates, especially the president, from voting without a decision of Congress.
On Monday, March 4, the U.S. Supreme Court decided to put former President Donald Trump on the primary ballot in Colorado. The court ended months of debate over whether Trump violated the “insurrection clause” of the 14th Amendment by seeking the US presidency. This was reported by the American television and radio company CNN.
Reporters said the ruling was a major victory for Trump, eliminating one of the many legal threats surrounding his campaign against current President Joe Biden. Although this decision does not affect four criminal cases, including the federal election disruption case, in which similar charges are being considered for the events of January 6, 2021. The court unanimously ruled that Trump cannot be unilaterally removed from the ballot.
But the justices were divided on how long the ruling should be extended. The court’s five-member majority argued that without congressional legislation, states could not remove federal candidates, especially the president, from the ballot.
“We conclude that states may disqualify individuals who hold or seek to hold government office. However, these individuals are constitutionally barred from applying Article 3 to federal authorities, particularly the office of the president,” the ruling said. The statement was included.
“Nothing in the Constitution authorizes states to enforce Section 3 against federal officials and candidates,” the majority added.
The decision, the first of its kind when the Supreme Court weighed in on Trump’s actions on Jan. 6, came a day before Super Tuesday, when elections and primaries are held in 16 states and territories, including Colorado.
What are primaries?
A primary is a type of pre-election voting in which a candidate is selected to participate in the election. In the United States, primaries are organized by the Republican Party in 50 US states and state legislatures. The purpose of the primaries is to appoint delegates to the 2024 Republican National Convention, scheduled for July, where they will determine the party’s nominee for President of the United States. These elections will be held in all 50 US states, the District of Columbia and five US territories, according to the established schedule.
Why did Colorado kick Trump off the ballot?
Courts and legal groups have been wrangling for months over the meaning of the post-Civil War provision at the center of the case. It bans some officials who swear an oath to protect the Constitution and then rebel from holding office again. The key provision, known as Section 3, was initially intended to prevent former Confederates from returning to power.
However, serious uncertainties arose regarding the meaning and implementation of the ban. Many conservative and liberal justices raised fundamental questions about Colorado’s fairness during arguments on Feb. 8, effectively answering those questions for the rest of the country.
The liberal group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed the lawsuit in Colorado in September on behalf of six Republicans and independent voters led by Norma Anderson, 91, a former Republican state legislator. They sued Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, asking a judge to force her to remove Trump’s name from the ballot in the state primary.
A Colorado district judge presided over the week-long hearing and concluded in November that despite Trump’s “involvement in the insurrection,” he should remain on the ballot because the ban does not apply to presidents. The Colorado Supreme Court, in a sharp 4-3 split, upheld findings regarding Trump’s role in the attack on the U.S. Capitol but said the ban applies to presidents.
What kind of insurrection did Trump participate in?
The allegations against Trump stem from his efforts to overturn the results after losing the 2020 election, his futile campaigning in court and in the media, and his pressure on election officials in swing states, culminating in his encouraging his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. 2021.
Recall, on March 1, Western media reported that Donald Trump was more popular than the real President Joe Biden in at least seven key states that were expected to play an important role in determining the election outcome.
Let us also remember that Bloomberg wrote on February 14 that Donald Trump wanted to force Ukraine to negotiate with Russia if he won the US presidential election. According to journalists, Trump’s plans include reducing obligations to some NATO member countries.
Source: Focus
Alfred Hart is an accomplished journalist known for his expert analysis and commentary on global affairs. He currently works as a writer at 24 news breaker, where he provides readers with in-depth coverage of the most pressing issues affecting the world today. With a keen insight and a deep understanding of international politics and economics, Alfred’s writing is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the world we live in.