Donald Trump’s legal team lodged an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday, seeking to invalidate the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision that disqualified him from the state’s GOP primary ballot.
In a comprehensive 43-page submission, Trump’s attorneys argued that the Colorado ruling contradicted the fundamental principles of a government “of the people, by the people, [and] for the people,” and thus could not stand.
The appeal urged the Supreme Court to grant certiorari to address this pivotal issue, swiftly overturn the Colorado Supreme Court’s decision, and restore the voters’ right to select their preferred candidate.
The Colorado Supreme Court’s significant ruling on December 19 marked the first instance where a challenge to Trump’s candidacy under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment was successful. By a 4-3 split decision, a majority of the Colorado justices stated that Trump’s involvement in the events of January 6, 2021, rendered him ineligible for the 2024 state primary ballot due to his alleged engagement in insurrection.
The Colorado justices opted to delay the enforcement of their ruling until January 4, awaiting potential appeals. Subsequently, the Colorado Republican Party appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, temporarily reinstating Trump on the GOP primary ballot.
Trump’s legal team emphasizes the crucial nature of the issues raised in their filing, especially considering his status as the leading contender for the Republican nomination. They argue that the Colorado decision could unfairly disenfranchise millions of voters in the state and potentially set a precedent for disenfranchising millions more across the nation.
Apart from Colorado, Trump faced disqualification from the primary ballot in Maine as Secretary of State Shenna Bellows upheld two 14th Amendment challenges to his candidacy. An appeal was filed by Trump’s team in Maine’s Superior Court, the state’s highest trial court.
While Trump has successfully fought eligibility challenges in states like Michigan and California, numerous 14th Amendment-related lawsuits continue to unfold in various parts of the country.
Steven Cheung, spokesperson for Trump’s 2024 campaign, criticized the attempts to bar Trump from the ballot as an unconstitutional interference in the election process, urging a resolute rejection of the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling and the guarantee of a fair election in November.