Supreme Court Decision Looms on Trump’s Eligibility for 2020 Ballot
In a case that has captured the attention of the nation, the Supreme Court is set to make a decision on whether former President Donald Trump can be removed from the ballot for the 2020 election. The decision, which could be announced as soon as Monday, will determine whether Trump’s efforts to overturn his defeat in the election will disqualify him from running again.
The case originated from a groundbreaking decision by the Colorado Supreme Court, which stated that Trump is disqualified from holding the presidency again and therefore ineligible for the state’s primary. This primary is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, adding urgency to the resolution of the case. If the Supreme Court rules against Trump, it would remove any uncertainty surrounding the validity of votes cast for him in the election.
Both sides involved in the case have requested a swift decision from the court, which heard arguments less than a month ago on February 8th. The Colorado court’s decision to disqualify Trump from the primary was based on a post-Civil War constitutional provision known as Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. This provision aims to prevent individuals who have “engaged in insurrection” from holding public office. Since then, Trump has also been barred from appearing on the primary ballot in Illinois and Maine. However, these decisions, along with Colorado’s, are currently on hold pending the outcome of the Supreme Court case.
It is worth noting that the Supreme Court has never ruled on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment until now. This fact, coupled with some unusual practices observed by the court, has led to speculation that the decision will indeed pertain to Trump’s eligibility for the ballot. The court typically announces its decisions on days when the justices are scheduled to take the bench, except for towards the end of the term in late June. However, the next scheduled court day is not until March 15th. Furthermore, the justices usually read summaries of their opinions in the courtroom, but for this case, they will not be present. Instead, the court’s opinions will be posted on its website starting at 10 a.m. EST on Monday.
In addition to this significant decision, the Supreme Court has also agreed to hear arguments in late April regarding whether Trump can be criminally prosecuted on charges related to election interference, including his alleged involvement in the January 6th, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The court’s decision to take on this politically charged case, which lacks clear precedent, raises questions about whether Trump will stand trial before the November election. Currently, Trump faces 91 criminal charges across four different prosecutions. The only case with a trial date confirmed is his state case in New York, where he is accused of falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments to a porn actor. This trial is set to begin on March 25th, and the judge has expressed his determination to proceed.
As the nation eagerly awaits the Supreme Court’s decision on Trump’s eligibility for the 2020 ballot, the outcome of this case will undoubtedly have far-reaching implications for both Trump and the American political landscape. The ruling will provide clarity on whether Trump’s efforts to overturn his defeat in the election will hinder his future political aspirations. In addition, the court’s decision may also shed light on how Section 3 of the 14th Amendment will be interpreted and applied moving forward. With so much at stake, all eyes will be on the Supreme Court as it delivers its verdict on this highly contentious issue.
