The Colorado Supreme Court banned Donald Trump from appearing on the state’s 2024 election ballot.
The 4-3 decision overturned a ruling from a district court judge, although the ruling noted that the district court “did not err in concluding that President Trump ‘engaged in’ that insurrection through his personal actions.”
“President Trump’s speech inciting the crowd that breached the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, was not protected by the First Amendment,” the ruling said.
“[W]e conclude that because President Trump is disqualified from holding the office of President under Section Three, it would be a wrongful act under the Election Code for the Secretary to list President Trump as a candidate on the presidential primary ballot,” the court wrote.
“We do not reach these conclusions lightly. We are mindful of the magnitude and weight of the questions now before us,” the court noted. “We are likewise mindful of our solemn duty to apply the law, without fear or favor, and without being swayed by public reaction to the decisions that the law mandates we reach.”
“We are also cognizant that we travel in uncharted territory, and that this case presents several issues of first impression.”
The decision will not take effect until January 4, allowing Trump to appeal the decision.
Trump’s campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, said in a statement, “Unsurprisingly, the all-Democrat appointed Colorado Supreme Court has ruled against President Trump, supporting a Soros-funded, left-wing group’s scheme to interfere in an election on behalf of Crooked Joe Biden by removing President Trump’s name from the ballot and eliminating the rights of Colorado voters to vote for the candidate of their choice.”
“Democrat Party leaders are in a state of paranoia over the growing, dominant lead President Trump has amassed in the polls. They have lost faith in the failed Biden presidency and are now doing everything they can to stop the American voters from throwing them out of office next November,” he added.
“The Colorado Supreme Court issued a completely flawed decision tonight and we will swiftly file an appeal to the United States Supreme Court and a concurrent request for a stay of this deeply undemocratic decision. We have full confidence that the U.S. Supreme Court will quickly rule in our favor and finally put an end to these unAmerican lawsuits.”
