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The justices said the Constitution does not allow a single state to disqualify a presidential candidate from national office, ruling that the responsibility “lies with Congress, not the states.” The court warned that chaos and confusion would ensue if candidates for national office were declared ineligible in some states but not in others based on the same act.
“Nowhere in the Constitution are we required to endure such disruption. It may arrive at any time or at a different time, up until Inauguration Day, or perhaps even after Inauguration Day,” the court wrote in an unsigned 13-page statement. stated in a written opinion.
The decision leaves Trump as the front-runner for the Republican nomination and, for the time being, removes the Supreme Court’s ability to directly decide the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. The justices quickly responded to a challenge from Colorado voters and issued their ruling the day before Super Tuesday, when nominating contests will be held in Colorado and a dozen other states. The ruling applies to other states with similar challenges to Trump’s candidacy.
In a sign that the high court is mindful of the election calendar, the justices will publish their opinions on the Supreme Court’s website on days when the court is not in session, rather than issuing them from the court later this month. Unprecedented measures were taken.
President Trump responded to the decision by posting a short message in all caps on his social media sites. “Big victory for America!!!” he wrote.
Trump’s eligibility to return to office is not the only issue that could affect the election of the former president, who faces four criminal charges before judges, two of which was related to Trump’s efforts to prevent Joe Biden from winning the 2020 election.
Next month, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear Trump’s challenge to the D.C. Circuit’s unanimous ruling that Trump is not protected from criminal prosecution. By presidential privilege. Their decision to take on the case postponed Trump’s D.C. federal trial for allegedly trying to overturn the 2020 election results until at least late summer, months before the general election.
The justices separately agreed to reconsider the validity of the law used to charge hundreds of people in connection with the Jan. 6 riot, which Trump said in Washington. It is also a key element in a four-count federal election interference case.
Trump is the first former US president to be charged with a crime. The high court’s involvement in his legal and political future as he seeks a return to the White House makes the 2024 election an unprecedented test of America’s judicial and democratic institutions.
In the Colorado case, the justices will consider a Colorado Supreme Court ruling that declared President Trump ineligible to return to the White House based on a long-dormant 14th Amendment clause after the Civil War. Was. The case gave the Supreme Court a pivotal role not seen since the high court’s decision in 2000. Bush vs. Gore He handed over the presidency to George W. Bush, sharply dividing the country.
This provision prohibits anyone who previously swore an oath to uphold the Constitution as an “officer of the United States” from returning to office if he or she betrayed that oath by participating in the insurrection. The text of Article 3 does not specify who will enforce this provision or when it will be triggered.
The challenge to Trump’s candidacy was filed by six Colorado voters, four Republicans and two independents. The Colorado Supreme Court found that President Trump engaged in an insurrection when he called his supporters to Washington and encouraged an angry crowd to disrupt Congress’ certification of Biden’s victory.
In oral arguments on February 8, justices from across the ideological spectrum argued that there would be troubling political ramifications if the Colorado Supreme Court granted an order to remove a leading Republican presidential candidate from the ballot. I warned you. Several justices have suggested that upholding a state court ruling barring Trump from federal office would throw the presidential election into chaos and lead to other states seeking to disqualify Democratic candidates.
The justices did not spend much time considering whether President Trump was involved in the insurrection. Instead, much of the debate focused on different interpretations of the text and history of the Fourteenth Amendment, also known as the disqualification clause.
Trump’s lawyer, Jonathan Mitchell, said in court that enforcement of the disqualification clause is up to Congress, not state courts or authorities. Additionally, Mitchell said Article III does not apply to President Trump because the president is not an “officer of the United States.” This clause is one of the terms used in the article when discussing potential insurgents.
Jason Murray, a lawyer for Colorado voters, asked the judge to finally resolve the issue of Trump’s eligibility, saying if he doesn’t, Congress can still disqualify him from winning the presidential election. He warned that he could try to prevent him from assuming office if he did so. election.
The case is Trump vs. Anderson.
This is a developing story. Will be updated.
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