Supreme Court Set to Determine Trump’s Eligibility for 2024 Ballot
Former President Donald Trump may soon find out whether he will be allowed to appear on the 2024 presidential ballot as the leading Republican candidate. The Supreme Court is expected to make a decision on Monday regarding a case from Colorado that could potentially disqualify Trump from some state ballots due to his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. This decision, which will be posted on the court’s website after 10 a.m. EST, comes just a day before Super Tuesday contests in 16 states.
The case revolves around a groundbreaking decision made by the Colorado Supreme Court, which stated that Trump is disqualified from seeking the presidency again and is therefore ineligible for the state’s primary elections. This decision has raised concerns about whether votes cast for Trump will ultimately count. Both sides involved in the case had urged the court to expedite its proceedings, and the arguments were heard less than a month ago, on February 8.
Based on the justices’ initial response during the hearing, it appeared likely that they would rule in favor of Trump. However, this case holds significant weight as it invokes Section 3 of the 14th amendment, a provision that has never been ruled upon by the Supreme Court before. This provision aims to prevent individuals who have “engaged in insurrection” from holding public office. In addition to Colorado, Trump has also been barred from appearing on primary ballots in Illinois and Maine, but these decisions are currently on hold pending the outcome of the Supreme Court case.
Although the court has not explicitly confirmed which case will be decided on Monday, there are strong indications that it will be the Trump ballot case. The court departed from its usual practices by not scheduling a bench day until March 15 and by not reading summaries of opinions in the courtroom. These departures have heightened expectations surrounding the Trump case. Furthermore, the court recently announced that it will hear arguments in late April regarding whether Trump can be criminally prosecuted for election interference charges, including his alleged role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. This decision raises questions about whether Trump will face trial before the November election.
In addition to these legal battles, Trump also faces a multitude of criminal charges. He currently faces 91 charges across four different prosecutions. However, the only case with a scheduled trial date is his New York state case, where he is accused of falsifying business records in relation to hush money payments made to a porn actor. The trial for this case is set to begin on March 25, and the judge involved has expressed a strong determination to proceed with the proceedings.
The Supreme Court’s decision on Trump’s eligibility for the 2024 ballot will have significant implications for the Republican Party and the upcoming presidential race. All eyes are now on the court as they prepare to address this politically charged issue.