The Colorado Supreme Court rejected the eligibility of former President Donald Trump to be on the ballot in the 2024 election. The 4-3 decision was a real shocker and puts the US Supreme Court in a tough spot.
While some legal experts say that the decision makes sense, it is inconvenient politically. It could give Mr. Trump a boost in the primary as it forces his opponents to rush to his defense.
Trump and his supporters were quick to blame Democrats for this outcome. They have a point because the judges behind the decision were appointed by Democratic governors.
However, Trump and his acolytes fail to mention that the lawsuit was initiated by four Republicans and two unaffiliated people.
Moreover, the lead voice behind the case, Norma Anderson, is a former Republican state legislator. She retired in 2011, and reportedly left her political party over its support for Trump. Anderson is in her 90s.
Former Colorado GOP attorney Mario Nicolais, who is now unaffiliated, is also one of the people pushing the case.
The Colorado primary is in March, but the names on the ballot have to be certified by January 5, 2024. The Colorado justices, who supported the decision, are facing threats from Trump supporters.
Some experts argue that the situation could become dangerous. Daniel J. Jones, who is keeping tabs on these kinds of threats, said in a statement to NBC News: “We are seeing significant violent language and threats being made against the Colorado justices and others perceived to be behind yesterday’s Colorado Supreme Court ruling.”
He continued: “The normalization of this type of violent rhetoric — and lack of remedial action by social media entities — is cause for significant concern. Trump’s statements, which have sought to delegitimize and politicize the actions of the courts, is serving as a key driver of the violent rhetoric. Political leaders on both sides of the political aisle need to speak out against these calls for violence, and social media platforms need to reassess their role in hosting and promoting this rhetoric.”
Trump has a huge lead in the GOP primary, and some say that Colorado is going to be a non factor regardless of the decision of the US Supreme Court.
The state leans Democratic for the general election, so the final decision might not matter here either. However, some other states might be inspired to do the same thing.
California is looking at ways to ban Trump from the ballot. Texas is doing the same thing, but for President Joe Biden.
