United States: The Supreme Court of Colorado has ruled that former US President, Mr. Donald Trump, cannot run for president in the 2024 election.
The court decided that Mr. Trump was ineligible to run for office due to his involvement in an uprising over the US Capitol riot almost three years ago.
This is the first time that a presidential candidate has ever been disqualified under Section 3 of the US Constitution’s 14th Amendment.
There have been unsuccessful attempts in New Hampshire, Minnesota, and Michigan to remove Mr. Trump from the ballot.
The ruling is only applicable to Colorado; it has been put on hold until next month while an appeal is processed.
The decision only pertains to the state’s primary on March 5, when Republican voters will select their front-runner for president; however, it may have an impact on Colorado’s general election in November of next year.
“We do not reach these conclusions lightly. We are mindful of the magnitude and weight of the questions now before us. We are likewise mindful of our solemn duty to apply the law, without fear or favour, and without being swayed by public reaction to the decisions that the law mandates we reach,” the justices wrote in their ruling.
The ruling overturns a previous ruling by a Colorado judge that presidents were exempt from the 14th Amendment’s ban on insurrection because the clause did not specifically mention them.
The ruling of the Colorado Supreme Court won’t take effect until January 4, 2024. That is the night before the state’s deadline for printing its ballots for the presidential primary, as per the statement.
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