The Colorado Supreme Court, in a 4-3 decision, has declared former US President Donald Trump ineligible for the White House under the US Constitution’s insurrection clause, marking the first such disqualification in history, Associated Press reports.
The court removed Trump from the state’s presidential primary ballot, marking the first use of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to disqualify a presidential candidate. This decision related to Trump’s alleged role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.
The court overturned a district court judge’s ruling that found Trump incited the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack but couldn’t be barred from the ballot. But the decision has been stayed until January 4 or until the US Supreme Court rules on the case.
Trump’s attorneys plan to appeal, arguing that the ruling attacks democracy. Advocates of the decision argue it upholds the Constitution, while critics view it as politically motivated.
The Colorado Supreme Court ruling stands in contrast with a recent Minnesota Supreme Court ruling allowing the state party to determine primary ballot inclusion.
