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Trump can’t be on Colorado ballot, court rules

The Supreme Court in the US state of Colorado has ruled that Donald Trump should be disqualified from appearing on the ballot for the Republican Party primary in the state next year.

A majority of the court found that Trump (pictured) was disqualified from holding the office of president under section 3 of the 14th amendment to the US Constitution.

This section prohibits individuals that have engaged in “insurrection”, having previously taken an oath to support the constitution, from holding certain offices.

The case had been taken by a group of Colorado voters, who had argued that Trump had taken part in insurrection on 6 January 2021, when the Capitol building was stormed.

‘Solemn duty’

The state’s district court had found that Trump, by his personal actions, did engage in insurrection, but held that section 3 did not apply to the US president.

The Colorado Supreme Court upheld the finding on insurrection, but also concluded that the relevant section of the constitution did cover the president.

“We do not reach these conclusions lightly,” the judges said in their ruling.

“We are mindful of the magnitude and weight of the questions now before us. We are likewise mindful of our solemn duty to apply the law, without fear or favour, and without being swayed by public reaction to the decisions that the law mandates we reach,” they stated.

A stay on the ruling has been put in place until 4 January pending an appeal. The Trump campaign has said that it will appeal the decision to the US Supreme Court.